Photo by V. Miller
Oct. 26, 2005
Heredity and Fingerprint Patterns
The Effects of Heredity on Present Fingerprint Patterns
Kendra Lee Potasiewicz, 15, Poland, N.Y.
Finalist, Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, 2005
Category: Zoology
This study was designed to see if heredity plays a role in a person's present fingerprint patterns. It was hypothesized that there would be a significant correlation between parents and offspring's present patterns, as well as a sibling-to-sibling correlation.
Proper equipment for taking fingerprints was obtained from the New York State Police barracks in Oneida, N.Y. This equipment was used to take the fingerprints of members of 20 different families. The prints were then analyzed to see which basic patterns they possess. The patterns were recorded on a family record sheet.
In analyzing the fingerprints, it was found that there was a direct correlation between the patterns on the same fingers of the hands (for example right thumb to right thumb) between parents and offspring, and among siblings. It was found that a child tended to take after one specific parent, rather than a combination of each. When the same type of pattern occurred on the same finger of both parents, the offspring generally tended to inherit that pattern on that finger.
In general, heredity tends to play a role in a person's fingerprint patterns.
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