Why Are Everyone's Fingerprints Different? Here's the Scientific Explanation

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YOGYAKARTA - Fingerprints can be said to be the most personal identity that humans have. Everyone has it, but no two fingerprints are exactly the same. Even in identical twins, they will have different fingerprints.

This uniqueness makes fingerprints used in various things, ranging from security to forensics. So, how can something as simple as lines on the fingertips be so unique? Here's the scientific explanation.

Why are everyone's fingerprints different?

Quoted from Ask Dr. Universe, David M. Conley, a professor at the Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, said there is no single cause of the uniqueness of everyone's fingerprints. The uniqueness of fingerprints is the result of genes and the environment or also called multifactorial inheritance.

He explained that genes play an important role in determining the basic pattern of fingerprints, such as arches or whorls. If parents have a certain pattern, there is a possibility that their child will inherit the same tendencies. Genes function like instructions in the body that regulate various characteristics, such as eye color, nose shape, and others.

Genes also regulate how and when the skin grows. Before birth, babies develop as fetuses in the womb, where the inner (dermis) and outer (epidermis) layers of the skin grow together. The pattern of friction ridges is formed at the meeting of these two layers, guided by genetic instructions. However, the two layers of the skin do not grow at the same speed. If one layer grows faster, it can stretch and pull the other layer.

In addition, fetal movement in the uterus also plays a role in creating variations. When the fingers come into contact with the uterine wall, a subtle pressure is formed that also forms a pattern. This pressure is different in each individual, so there is no pattern that is completely identical. No wonder if the possibility of two people having the same fingerprints is very small, about one in 64 billion.

Interestingly, humans are not the only creatures that have unique fingerprints. Animals such as koalas and chimpanzees also have friction ridge patterns that differ from each other. They also spend a lot of time climbing trees, just like human ancestors millions of years ago. This pattern likely helps them grip rough or slippery surfaces.

So it can be concluded, the uniqueness of fingerprints is a combination of genetic and environmental factors. There is no single cause that determines the pattern shape. Each line formed is the result of a long process since the fetus develops in the womb.

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