In this experiment, you will be able to discover the unique nature of fingerprints. How many different fingerprints can you collect to observe? Share with us your favorite finding during your forensic exploration!
Question
How do forensic scientists use fingerprints to solve crimes?
Materials
- Paper
- Pencil
- Clear Tape
What to Do
- On a piece of paper, shade in a very dark area to make an inkpad for your finger.
- Rub your finger in the shaded area until it is covered in lead.
- Place the sticky part of the clear tape over your shaded finger.
- Remove the tape carefully, without smudging the fingerprint and stick the tape to a new piece of paper. Label your finger.
- Repeat this for as many fingers as you would like to investigate.
- Compare your fingerprints to the images below – what patterns can you identify in your own fingerprints?
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Major-Fingerprint-Types-Whorl-Arc-Tent-Right-loop-Left-loop-and-Double-Loop_fig1_289246081
What is Happening?
A fingerprint is unique to an individual. – they are difficult to alter and remain the same over a lifetime, which make them a good marker of human identity. Since no one has the same fingerprints, when they are recovered from a crime scene, they can be used by forensic scientists to identify potential suspects.
Activity add-ons:
Get more fingerprints to investigate the people in your family. Once everyone has given you their prints ask them to make some unidentified prints. Can you figure out who the mystery prints belong to by comparing to your master prints?