Midterm Essay

Use the concepts and the material from the class regarding the science of fingerprints to write a 3 – 4 page paper answering the following 3 questions:

Part 1

Based upon your expertise in regards to fingerprint and friction-skin development, explain why the following conclusion regarding human cloning is false.

Premise: We all accept the proven fact that identical twins do not have the same fingerprints. However, human clones present a different set of friction skin development issues.

Conclusion: The clone, being directly derived from the host, would indeed have the same fingerprints. That is, the ridge events in a unit formation of the host and the clone would correspond.

Part 2

Explain the principles and processes used in the analysis, comparison, evaluation, and verification of latent fingerprints.

Part 3

Define class characteristics and individual characteristics of latent fingerprints. Present one example of each and explain how your examples fit the definitions.