Final answer:
Fingerprints and footprints are produced by projections into the epidermis called dermal papillae. They form where the cells of the stratum basale meet the papillae of the underlying dermal layer, resulting in the formation of the ridges on the fingers that you recognize as fingerprints.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fingerprints and footprints are produced by projections into the epidermis called dermal papillae. In a growing fetus, fingerprints form where the cells of the stratum basale meet the papillae of the underlying dermal layer, resulting in the formation of the ridges on the fingers that you recognize as fingerprints. Fingerprints are unique to each individual and are used for forensic analyses because the patterns do not change with the growth and aging processes.