Fingerprints do more than bust us

jbo, Raleigh, NC — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:38:41 GMT

Why would they study a smooth surface?

When fingerprints evolved man was not working with smooth surfaces, most surfaces in nature are not smooth (tree branches, rocks, shells).

If you use the analogy of the tire, the more irregular the surface that you are driving on, the more grooved the tires.

Fingerprints do more than bust us

Bob Hammersmith, Seattle, WA — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:46:57 GMT

"It’s long been thought that the distinct skin patterns reduce surface friction when we’re grasping or holding objects — that the the friction improves our grip."

That sentence doesn't make sense. Reducing friction improves our grip?

Fingerprints do more than bust us

Dash Lom, Austin, MN — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:10:48 GMT

Just like race car tires, smooth surfaces make for poor traction on wet surfaces (as discussed in the article). We humans sweat, on our hands and ridged areas as well. Without ridges to provide traction, we would slip a lot more.

Me, I love my radial whorls!

Fingerprints do more than bust us

jeremy, louisville, ky — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:32:31 GMT

I think you mean 'increase' surface friction.

"It’s long been thought that the distinct skin patterns reduce surface friction when we’re grasping or holding objects"

Fingerprints do more than bust us

Buffy, Colorado Springs, CO — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:43:22 GMT

OMG!!! I have fingerprints, too!!!

Fingerprints do more than bust us

-rkj Minnesota — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:54:12 GMT

Lame. How much did that cost somebody/some organization?

Fingerprints do more than bust us

Craig H, Rochester NY — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:00:44 GMT

I'm surprised the researchers would have thought that the ability to grasp smooth objects would have had any evolutionary advange. Few objects that are not man-made are smooth.

Fingerprints do more than bust us

Kirk Barrett, Lancaster PA — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:38:27 GMT

Brilliant deduction and research!! Thank you!

Fingerprints do more than bust us

Michael, Rockford, Il — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:07:15 GMT

Very interesting read - makes a lot of sense. I have never thought about that as an explanation.

Fingerprints do more than bust us

John Doe, Houston, TX — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:31:07 GMT

Since evolution would have had us do more gripping of rough objects than of smooth objects, the "fingertip ridges are there for grasping" proposition still seems to be sound. If primates encountered predominantly Perspex in their environment and still had fingertip ridges, then it would be confusing. It seems that the "elasticity" proposition provides an additional benefit of the ridges: a both rather than either/or approach perhaps.

Fingerprints do more than bust us

Chuck Oklahoma City, OK — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:05:08 GMT

The analogy to racing tires is flawed. Too many variables between the tire compound, racing surface, speeds, downforce, etc. I would think that the analogy would best work against his idea. Gheckos have enormously detailed ridges on their feet which allows them to cling to sheer surfaces.

Fingerprints do more than bust us

Dave Phoenix, AZ — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:34:50 GMT

Another example of academics with nothing constructive to do.

Fingerprints do more than bust us

JO-JO BINKS NOWHERE YOU KNOW — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:41:59 GMT

WELL, A FEW STATES..."HAVE MINE"... GUESS, I'LL HAVE TO BURN MY FINGER TIPS OFF? JUST A JOKE HOMO LANDINSECURITY... I MEAN HOMELAND "WHATEVER" THEY ARE ALL IN CO-HOOTS.

Fingerprints do more than bust us

Jim Goddard, Columbus, Ohio — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:45:46 GMT

Starting with the premise of the smooth racing tire (F1, IRL, NASCAR, etc.) and claiming that smooth is stickier on smooth surfaces is, at best, a leap. You will find that those tires are quite "sticky" because the "rubber" is quite sticky. They are not grooved because they want maximum contact area with the track/roadway surface and they do not have to deal with getting water out from under the contact area with the road/track. Some of these tires are so soft that rubber can be pealed off by pushing your thumb accross the tire surface (and look at the rubber left on the racing surface by these tires (often the stuff is referred to as the marbles because driving on them reduces surface contact so much it is like driving on marbles.

Different materials have different coefficients of friction. Consider Teflon, which is quite smooth and very slippery. If our skin surface was akin to Teflon picking anything up would be very tricky indeed. In contrast, if our skin was like the surface of the racing tire, it would be easy to pick things up (but harder to put them down). But the surface would wear away at a fairly high rate.

The grooves and ridges MIGHT help the skin stretch and distort more easily, but the material properties of the skin (or any other material) determine the elasticity more than the ridges, which are not folds. As people age the ridges do not go away, but the elasticity of the skin decreases substantially.

Truly, as with car tires, the grooves do help increase friction with wet surfaces.

Fingerprints do more than bust us

ThatGirl, Fort Lauderdale, FL — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:50:06 GMT

Homeland Security says we don't own our Fingerprints..they are "Public Domain". I disagree and will not submit to their tyrannical measures!
My fingerprints belong to me!

Fingerprints do more than bust us

Jon gilbert AZ — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:59:04 GMT

Is this going to change anything ? No .lets spend the additional funding something useful.

Fingerprints do more than bust us

Sandra Brown, Waynesboro, TN — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:00:43 GMT

My theory about fingerprints is two-fold. Perhaps God gave us all unique fingerprints, as well as DNA, to emphasize how special we are to Him; that each person was carefully considered and individually complex. Secondly, because God is a lover of justice, our prints help our legal system identify criminals.

Fingerprints do more than bust us

J, Dallas, Texas — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:00:59 GMT

We needed to waste money on this useless research for what purpose?

Fingerprints do more than bust us

K Schmidt, Northeast, OR — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:03:46 GMT

God is a wonderful designer. Thanks for the confirmation!

Fingerprints do more than bust us

PK, Russellville KY — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:05:59 GMT

I still find it hard to believe that no two people can have the same fingerprints.There is only a finite amount of patterns to be had and I think the number of people on this planet outweight the number of patterns.

Fingerprints do more than bust us

Bryan — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:07:34 GMT

And why don't Indy cars race in the rain? Because those slick tires that provide such great grip on dry surfaces from all that contact area offer no such assurances on a wet surface. And why do normal passenger car tires have treads on them? Because, unlike Indy Car drivers, we can't be assured the road surfaces are going to be perfectly dry whenever we drive on them. When is the last time your company shut down for the day because of rain??? Tires for everyday use must be suitable for wide variety of conditions.

I submit that fingerprints are an evolutionary equivalent to "All Purpose Radials". Not the best solution for one instance (like an Indy racing slick), but a pretty good design for handling wet, dry, frozen, or whatever types of objects.

Fingerprints do more than bust us

Ron Gardner Atwater, Ca. — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:11:56 GMT

Amazing isn't it? Man has had fingerprints throughout all time, but we only started using and recognizing that in the last century. How many other medical cures are waiting at our fingertips (excuse the pun)?

Fingerprints do more than bust us

William Melendez, Houston TX — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:18:08 GMT

That is a great theory, still leaves the question as to why are fingerprints individually different, if it was purely to reduce friction everyone would have the same fingerprints. Unless nature still testing the concept and have not chosen the best design, yet.

Fingerprints do more than bust us

kevin, SF bay area, CA — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:18:48 GMT

Interesting. But how many surfaces in nature are as smooth as perspex? Or the fact that skin itself is elastic. Now on the other hand the seperation of the ridges in the print would allow for a wider griping surface when extended, then contracting to grip what ever surface ones grasping. For the heel since its an extreme impact and load bearing surface, one wouldnt really want too much discriminatory sense in the area.

Fingerprints do more than bust us

carlos666 Montrose, Colorado — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:22:27 GMT

The article makes no sense! I can grasp the elasticity thing etc. but why are all of them different from one another? Name another part of the body that is so specialized that it is different from everyone elses. Maybe I missed something here. Carlos

Fingerprints do more than bust us

Charlie - Baltimore, MD — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:22:54 GMT

Fascinating

Fingerprints do more than bust us

Billy Bob, Fargo, ND — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:24:21 GMT

"part of a design package"?

This guy ain't no scientist, he's one of those crazy creationists!

Fingerprints do more than bust us

Tess, Fort Worth, Texas — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:41:39 GMT

I enjoyed reading this article. I hope they get the funding.

Fingerprints do more than bust us

Steve Thomson — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:43:34 GMT

Just as slick racing tires are NEVER used in the rain, fingerprint ridges also act like a high performance tire by channeling water and heat from the contact patch.
If cavemen didn't have friction ridges on their feet, when they ran in the rain they would have slid right into the dinosaur's mouth. Caveman Joe also didn't have rain gloves and had to use his bare hands when climbing trees and rocks in rain.

Fingerprints do more than bust us

Randy Volkening, Seattle, WA — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:45:01 GMT

We have fingerprints by intelligent design. In fact, every distinguishable, distinct, and defining feature of the human body was created by our Creator who lovingly and graciously reveals Himself through nature (natural revelation) and the Bible (supernatural revelation). God gaves us unique fingerprints to remind us that every person is special and wonderfully made, even those yet unborn, still in the mother's womb. Fingerprints give each person a unique identity, and helps us reach out and touch the face of God. When God feels our fingerprints, He smiles and is well pleased.

Fingerprints do more than bust us

Michael Conine, Rock, Michigan — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:46:53 GMT

Some defining work, for sure, but how many times have you seen substances as unnaturally smooth as Perspex in nature, that are not wet. That is where most of the evolution to the fingerprint would occur, especially if you were say a monkey or an ape. Don't rule out the grasping theory yet...

Fingerprints do more than bust us

T. MICHAEL BROOKHART — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:02:11 GMT

Enjoy the fruits of your labor God said to us. God knew we would have to labor to serve him and our family.And you correct that no human shares the same because Gods creation was to make us all individual souls.Its impossible that all of this just happened on its own, its to complicated to figure out everything,but scientists and researchers keep trying to find the final answer but they never will until they just have faith and believe in THE LORD THY GOD.

Fingerprints do more than bust us

Nancy,Arcadia,California — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:06:22 GMT

We have fingerprints also because God is letting us know in His own way that He cares about us individually.That He created us individually and wants to have a personal relationship with us.
As the Psalmist ,King David put it:"He knows the way I walk." So,certainly ,we have a unique footprint on our heels ,each and every one of us ,which gives a more profound meaning to this phrase from the Bible.

Fingerprints do more than bust us

Cheryl M. Fairfax, VA — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:12:51 GMT

Dr. Ennos....
Trust me, having been born with a genetic disorder that precluded me from having fingerprints(Dermatopathia Pigmentosa Reticularis), those of us without them can't grip smooth objects or turn pages very well. I'm assuming that you took into account that the ridges are actually thousands of tiny sweat glands also, which has been supposed to assist with grapsing.

Fingerprints do more than bust us

carlos666 Montrose, Colorado — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:19:12 GMT

Fingerprints do more than bust us

Andrew McNair — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:29:28 GMT

Did a scientist say "design"? Hmmm. Design package- interesting phrase, I wonder what he is getting at. What would happen if he took that line of thought to its logical conclusion? And how did the evolution community let it through? Hmm.

Fingerprints do more than bust us

Jim Allen — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:33:39 GMT

Smooth skin surfaces DO add grip, but they also would have a greater tendency for layers of skin to remain attached to the gripped item as it slipped from the hand. Fingerprints allows the gripping to be done with the force of the hand muscles and reduces the chance of epithelial skin loss. The article needed to clarify the potential for skin damage.

Fingerprints do more than bust us

AS, WV — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:38:44 GMT

You said, "having a fingerprint is part of a design package". This is just one more proof that humans are a product of magnificant design, no evolution.

Fingerprints do more than bust us

shiztizzle, LA, CA — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:44:02 GMT

that sounds a little far fetched. remember when you take long baths or get into a pool, your fingertips wrinkle up because they're absorbing the water and therefore stretching. once they've absorbed all the water they can, they begin to wrinkle and become distorted due to excess water. well, when you are a baby floating in amniotic fluid, your fingertips absorb liquid then as well. keep in mind that the fluid is not stagnant and moves around as both the mother and baby move. this ebb-and-flow swirling of the fluid is what creates the distinctive ridges and patterns of everyone's fingertips, or fingerprints. if flexibility were the main reason, then most animals with tails would have prints on them as well.

Fingerprints do more than bust us

SKVAM — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:47:46 GMT

That makes sense, that ridges make flexibility possible. In fact, with long wood pieces, the crosscutting of ridges enables the bending of that wood. So if I take a 2 inch by four inch by eight foot piece of lumber, and cut the 2 inch depth to about 1 and something inches, and do it repeatedly close enough to leave something looking like a comb, the previously inflexible length of wood will bend. Make sense???

Fingerprints do more than bust us

Rabbi Israel Robinson, Atlanta, GA — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:53:35 GMT

OK, you explained the function, as all good scientists do. However, the WHY and HOW our prints developed such complicated and close whorls - those are still in the realm of the mysteries of creation. The Creator chooses to keep His "whys" and "hows" pretty well hidden.

Fingerprints do more than bust us

Steven Neff, Whittier CA — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:28:00 GMT

Silly science. Very little that is smooth and flat occurs naturally. The ridges and swirls on our hands do help tremendously in what humans have needed to do for millions of years. Try doing everyday things in surgical gloves to see what life would be like without fingerprints.

Fingerprints do more than bust us

Robert Czarnek — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:31:21 GMT

This is junk science. Most arguments, like those related to friction, violate physics and the rest violate the plain common sense. Have you seen fingerprints on ones foreskin? Yet it stretches a good ten times. Try it with the skin on your hands. Another example of wasting taxpayers’ money through grants given by government to pseudo-scientists.

Fingerprints do more than bust us

STepper, Malibu — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:05:42 GMT

Huh? Reduces or increases friction?

Fingerprints do more than bust us

SDG, Oregon — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:30:32 GMT

This is yet another fantastic witness to the Creator of the universe!

Fingerprints do more than bust us

Charles Whittlesey — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:44:02 GMT

Cool. Same concept as bark on trees. It contracts and expands from cold and heat better than a smooth surface.

Fingerprints do more than bust us

Pat Danville,IL — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:43:57 GMT

What is DIY work?

Fingerprints do more than bust us

James — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:18:48 GMT

Good thought process. The idea regarding flexability is sound logic. I agree with your assertation that fingerprints are part of a design package. That would inherently imply the wisdom of the designer, would it not?

Fingerprints do more than bust us

Nobel Laureate, Washington, DC — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:21:22 GMT

The creationists (smooth brain) in the crowd are again grasping at straws to explain (by supernatural intervention) something that is inherently difficult to explain without a scientific (convoluted brain) method. More surface area = better grasp of reality...less surface area = less grasp of reality. :)

DIY is do-it-yourself Pat, DUH!

Fingerprints do more than bust us

Rosemarie Lock UK — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:27:25 GMT

Unique like our irises, our nervous network, our hair follicle pattern, degree and distribution of pigmentation, our blood vessel patterns,our dna etc Unique in a similar way to other animals that reproduce sexually rather than by parthenogenesis. ie with two sexes rather than creating genetically identical 'clones' as aphids and some frogs can and bees etc.Uniqueness is normal, having identical fingerprints would be limited to genetically identical twins.

Fingerprints do more than bust us

Anonymous, USA — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:01:01 GMT

Carlos - none of our body is exactly like anyone else's. Each one of your major organs, while generally similar to most other people's, possesses small differences from those of everyone else on the planet. Same goes for everything else. (Although I'm not entirely sure if this is the case for identical twins)

Fingerprints do more than bust us

jenniferpat, dallas, tx — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:10:12 GMT

I need a letter that needs fingerprint analysis. I would like to find out who wrote this letter. Is there somewhere local (Dallas,Tx) I can call to get service from?