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Fingerprints

The document provides an overview of fingerprints, including their formation, historical context, types, and methods for identification and enhancement. It explains the uniqueness of fingerprints compared to DNA, outlines various fingerprint patterns, and details techniques for developing latent prints. Additionally, it discusses alterations in fingerprints due to various conditions and their applications in identification and forensic science.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
9 views25 pages

Fingerprints

The document provides an overview of fingerprints, including their formation, historical context, types, and methods for identification and enhancement. It explains the uniqueness of fingerprints compared to DNA, outlines various fingerprint patterns, and details techniques for developing latent prints. Additionally, it discusses alterations in fingerprints due to various conditions and their applications in identification and forensic science.

Uploaded by

Yolo Yolo
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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FINGERPRINTS

BASICS

• DACTYLOGRAPHY – the method of identification of fingerprints based


on unique epidermal ridge pattern on tips of fingers.
• It is better than DNA profiling as later is same in identical twins .
• Patterns are not inherited , hence paternity cannot be proved by
fingerprint patterns.
• Epidermal ridges are raised portions of epidermis on fingers for gripping
rough and wet surfaces.
• Sweat gland pores open on their top and are responsible for fingerprints.
• Subsidiary/rudimentary ridge – an incompletely developed ridge which do
not have sweat pores and hence do not produce fingerprints.
• Volar pads develop 6 to 8 weeks after conception. They are ball like
structures forming the contour of foetal hand.
• Skin ridges appear around 13th week.
• Fingerprint pattern appear at around 10-16th week due to influence of
amniotic fluid pressure.
• 21st week completes the fingerprint pattern.
• Fingerprints remain permanent throughout life and even after death.
HISTORY
• Grew first described the ridge pattern of fingers.
• Johann Mayer recognised that each fingerprint is unique for any individual.
• William Herschel first started fingerprinting techniques in India.
• Francis Galton systematized dactylography by publishing a detailed
statistical model of fingerprint analysis and identification. It is after him
that the system is known as galton system.
• 2 individual having same fingerprint is 1 in 64 billion.
• In 1897 the worlds 1st fingerprint bureau was established in Kolkata.
TYPES OF FINGERPRINT
ACCORDING TO FINGERPRINT PATTERN – Depends on presence of
core and delta.
A ridge recurving on itself forms a core.
Convergence of ridges from 3 directions form delta/triradius.
RULE –
• If a pattern contains neither core nor delta it forms ARCH.
• If it contains one core and one delta – LOOP.
• No core and 2 delta – WHORL.
• Mixed patterns – COMPOSITES.
• Most common pattern is loop.(67%)
• Loop – ridges enter from one side , recurve and they exit from the same
side.
Two types – 1) radial – enter and exit from the radial side
2) ulnar – enter and exit from the ulnar side.
• Whorls – 2nd most common (25%). They form a complete 360 degree
around the centre of the print.
Types – concentric , spiral, double spiral and almond shape.
• Arches(7%) – two types - 1) plain arch – ridges enter from one side rise
to form a slight bump and exit from the opposite side.
2)Tented arch – ridges form 45 degree or
more angle at top.
• Composite(1%) – types – central pocket loop , lateral pocket loop ,
twinned loop and accidentals.
ACCORDING TO DISCOVERY AT CRIME SCENE

• Three varieties –
• 1) latent prints – formed when small amounts of body perspiration and
oils are left on the touched surfaces. They are not visible , hence needs to
be developed for visibility.
• 2) plastic prints – found on malleable , soft and sticky surfaces like
adhesive tapes , cheese , fat gum soap , wax and undried paint. Also known
as indented or moulded prints.
• 3) patent / visible prints – when some coloured substances come in
contact with hand like dust , blood , grease , ink , lotion , paint and such
hand touches a smooth surface , leaving the print on the surface. Also
known as contaminated prints.
• Visible prints- 2 subtypes
1) positive – when impression is produced by fingerprint ridges
contaminated by a colouring substance.
2) negative - where the fingerprint ridges remove the surface material
such as dust etc.
METHODS OF DEVELOPING OR ENHANCING LATENT
FINGERPRINTS

Fingerprints found on substances that are


1. porous – a) non wet variety – use of DFO or ninhydrin
DFO(diazofluoren) reacts with aminoacids present on fingerprint residue
to produce a faint coloured but highly fluorescent compound which can
easily be photographed.
In wet conditions the aminoacids dissolve hence DFO has no role.
Articles thought to contain latent fingerprints are dipped in DFO solution
with an inert carrier solvent , then heated in dry oven at 100 degree for 20
min.
Ninhydrin – mechanism is similar with that of DFO but it forms a purple
colour compound which is non fluorescent . To make it a fluorescent
compound it has to react with ZnCl2 solution. Heating conditions – 80
degree for 3-4 mins with 65% humidity.
In cases when a porous surface is wet the only available technique is physical
developer(PD) . This reagent is solution of AgNo3 with ferrous or ferric
agent and 2 detergents. It detects the NaCl molecules present on the
fingerprint residues. The developed fingerprints are gray or black in colour
and is recorded via conventional photography.
• 2) non porous substances – wet – VMD(vacuum metal deposition) –
capable of detecting fat present on the fingerprint residue by deposition of
thin coating of thermally evaporated gold followed by zinc.
• Non porous dry variety – 1) smooth surface – use of powders – either
magnetic or non magnetic
• Magnetic variety contains iron covered by a coloured pigment.
• Non magnetic variety contains dark powders like charcoal , graphite ,
haddonite black.
• Light powders are calcium oxide , chalk and haddonite white.
• Mechanism is – after adding powder generally if it sticks to the surface
then some fat particles from the fingerprint residue are present. Excess is
blown out.
• On dry rough surface – superglue fuming technique or cyanoacrylate
which reacts with traces of aminoacids , fatty acids and proteins of the
latent fingerprint residue to produce a sticky white compound along the
ridges.
• The suspected surface is placed inside an airtight tank containing small
heater and then drops of cyanoacrylate are added and heated at 49 to 65
degree . For reaction to take place cyanoacrylate must be in gaseous
form.
• Enhancement by bacteria - Acinetobacter coloaceticus proliferates on the
residues present and forms colonies on ridges making latent print visible.
• Techniques of fingerprinting in living –
Hands should be properly cleaned and impressions are to be taken in
unglazed white paper.
Two types of print are taken - 1) plain fingerprint – ink are applied to the
finger tips and fingers are just placed over the paper. Also called slapped ,
dab or flat print.
Rolled – impression taken from one side to other side of finger tip.
Fingerprint in dead - if body is decomposed - then the epidermis is peeled
off and preserved in 10% formalin and sent to fingerprint bureau for further
evaluation.
In cases of drowning or advanced decomposition , where epidermal skin is
missing – the impressions is taken from dermis as ridge pattern are even
present in dermis upto 0.6mm
If body is mummified – fingers are immersed in 20% acetic acid for 24-48
hrs.
If fingers are soddened then liquid paraffin is injected in the terminal phalanx
of each finger.
• Comparison of fingerprints - are based on presence of minutiae which
are present throughout the ridge areas.
• 16 to 20 points of comparison are accepted as proof of identity.
• The minutiae are as follows in the diagram…..
ALTERATION OF FINGERPRINTS

• Change in distance between the ridges – RIA( rickets , infantile paralysis ,


acromegaly)
• Incomplete Ridge alteration (transmogrification)– SAD( scleroderma ,
acanthosis nigricans , dermatitis)
• Ridge atrophy – coeliac disease
• Permanent alteration – leprosy , corrosives , radiation injury , electrical
injury
• Genetic disease causing alteration of patterns – dyskeratosis congenita(
Zinsser Engman Cole syndrome)
• An average fingerprint leaves behind 0.04 to 0.2ng of DNA .
• Association of blood groups with fingerprint patterns – A+ , O+ AND
AB+ have high frequency of loops . While B+ is associated with whorls.
• Association of fingers with patterns –
index – arch
Middle and little finger – loop
Thumb and ring finger – whorl.
MLI
• Identification
• Exchange of babies
• Forgery sign in cheques
• Bank purposes
• Missing and unknown person
• During disaster
• Illiterate person
THANK YOU

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