Advantages and Limitations of Fingerprinting (2024)

Commentary,Adv Biomed Res Vol: 6 Issue: 1

Ross Bremner*

Department of Forensic Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

Keywords: Fingerprinting

Description

Fingerprinting is a widely used technique for identification andsecurity. It involves the analysis of the unique patterns and ridges onan individual's fingertips to create a record that can be used foridentification and authentication purposes. It has been used foridentification purposes for over a century, and its importance in thefield of forensics cannot be overstated. Fingerprinting is based on thepremise that no two individuals have the same fingerprints, and assuch, it is considered a highly reliable technique for identification andauthentication. The unique patterns and ridges on an individual'sfingertips are captured using various methods, including inked prints,digital scans, and live scans. These prints are then analyzed andcompared to existing records to identify individuals or to authenticatetheir identity. The use of fingerprints for identification can be tracedback to ancient Babylon, where fingerprints were used on clay tabletsfor business transactions. However, the modern development offingerprinting is credited to Sir Francis Galton, who published a bookin 1892 called "Fingerprints" that detailed the science offingerprinting. Galton's work laid the foundation for the use offingerprints in forensic science, and his research led to thedevelopment of Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS)in the 1970s.

There are three primary types of fingerprints: Arches, loops, andwhorls. Arches are the simplest type of fingerprint, with ridges thatflow from one side of the print to the other without making any loopsor whorls. Loops are more complex, with ridges that enter and exitfrom the same side of the print, while whorls have ridges that formcircular or spiral patterns. Fingerprinting has numerous applications inlaw enforcement, forensics, and other fields. In law enforcement,fingerprints are often used to identify suspects in criminalinvestigations, while in forensics fingerprints can be used to linkindividuals to crime scenes or to identify victims of accidents ordisasters. Fingerprinting is also used in other fields, such as bordercontrol, banking, and healthcare, to authenticate the identity ofindividuals. Fingerprinting is considered a highly reliable techniquefor identification and authentication, with a high degree of accuracyand a low error rate. It is also a non-invasive technique that does notrequire any special equipment or training. However, fingerprintingdoes have some limitations. While fingerprinting is a widely usedmethod for identification purposes, it does have some limitationsincluding a person's fingerprints are incomplete or damaged, it may bedifficult to obtain a complete set of prints for accurate identification.Although fingerprints are unique, they can vary in their characteristics,which may make it difficult to match them accurately. Fingerprintidentification relies heavily on the skills of the examiner, and mistakescan occur due to factors such as fatigue, bias, or lack of training. It ispossible for two individuals to have similar fingerprints, which canlead to false positives in identification. Environmental factors such asdirt, grease, or moisture can affect the quality of fingerprints and makethem difficult to read. Fingerprints can change over time due to factorssuch as aging, injury, or disease, which can make it difficult to matchthem accurately to previous records. Its use has revolutionized thefield of forensic science, and it has numerous applications in lawenforcement, forensics, and other fields.