R is for Ridge Patterns

This topic really excited me, but apparently my excitement was better spent in the warm sunshine today than writing up my post. The information on tonight’s topic comes from the Forensics: A Guide for Writers book. Ok, so ridge patterns, or fingerprints, are used to identify people, suspects and now, teachers. Everyone has fingerprints that form in utero, but how many and where they are located gives them their uniqueness. Each fingerprint you have is independently unique. Even DNA sharing identical twins’ ridge patterns differ. Certain nefarious individuals try to eliminate their ridge patterns by burning or shaving off the pads of their finger. Unfortunately for them, you can never permanently remove your fingerprints. They always come back after some healing time. I’m going to give you a quick break down of the three patterns, so take a look at your fingers while you read. Arches (5% of population) : “ridgelines that rise in the center to create a wave-like patter...