Question

Impressions made by the ridges on the ends of the fingers and thumbs are useful means of identification, since no two persons have the same pattern of ridges. If finger patterns from fingerprints are not decipherable, then they cannot be classified by general shape and contour or by pattern type. If they cannot be classified by these characteristics, then it is impossible to identify the person to whom the fingerprints belong.

A) Fingerprint patterns are unique, and their decipherability implies that they can be easily identified by general shape and contour.
B) Fingerprint patterns are common and not useful for identification, and their decipherability implies that they cannot be classified by pattern type.
C) Fingerprint patterns are not unique, and their decipherability implies that they cannot be classified by general shape and contour or by pattern type.
D) Fingerprint patterns are not useful for identification, and their decipherability implies that they can only be classified by pattern type.

Answer 1

Fingerprints and DNA fingerprinting are unique to each individual and do not change over time, making them reliable methods for identification in forensic analysis and criminal investigations.

Step-by-step explanation:

Fingerprints are unique patterns formed by the ridges on the fingers and thumbs which are useful for identification because no two individuals have the same pattern of ridges. These patterns are formed as a result of the interaction between the stratum basale and the papillary layer of the dermis in a growing fetus and remain unchanged throughout a person's life. They can be classified by general shape, contour, and pattern type when decipherable.

Moreover, DNA fingerprinting is an advanced technique used to identify a person based on unique DNA patterns established through methods like PCR and gel electrophoresis. This technique is particularly useful in forensic analysis, including criminal investigations and paternity tests.