Final answer:
Fingerprints are unique identifiers made up of water and a mix of oils, salts, and amino acids, often used in forensic science for establishing personal identity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fingerprints are intricate patterns on the fingers, comprised of ridges and troughs. They are unique to each individual and are made up of a combination of water, oils, salts, and amino acids.
The unique patterns are formed where the cells of the stratum basale meet the papillae of the dermal layer, and they do not change over an individual's lifetime, making them essential for forensic analyses—ranging from criminal investigations to paternity tests.
The ridge patterns of fingerprints are influenced by genetic and environmental factors during development in the womb. While patterns may vary globally, similar to skin color, they have not been used as markers of race due to their less visible nature.
The practice of fingerprinting utilizes techniques such as PCR and gel electrophoresis to analyze these patterns in forensic science. DNA fingerprinting can uniquely identify a person using a small sample from the body—such as blood, skin, saliva, or semen—by comparing the DNA sequences.