What+are+fingerprints?

What are fingerprints?

Fingerprints are the ridges on the surfaces of each person's hands. Fingerprints are the same for an individual's entire lifetime. Anything that causes deep tissue damage (burns, deep cuts) will leave a mark in the fingerprint.

The science of identifying fingerprints is called dactyloscopy.

Fingerprints are also known as dactylograms.



__Fingerprints have many identifying characteristics such as: __
 * Their general shape (see "@Types of Fingerprints" page)
 * Which way their general shape bends
 * Minutiae (the number, location and shape of each of the small ridges contained in the fingerprint itself)
 * Scars or damage to the print

__Fingerprints are used for: __
 * Identification
 * Livescan devices (such as door locks and other security required entrances)
 * Testing for drug abuse/use

__Interesting Fact:__ The first time fingerprinting was used in a crime novel, was in Mark Twain's "Life on the Mississippi" published in 1883