Why do we have fingerprints?

What are they for? Why are they there?

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Asked in fingerprints, human, body asked on: 09/20/2007 06:20pm

closed on: 09/27/2007 06:20pm

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duffield1

Rank: Albert Einstein² (25,674) | Biology (115), Human (16), body (6)

2 minutes after the question was opened (09/20/2007 06:21pm)

To provide additional grip when you are holding things - the grooves in your fingers effectively provide a non-slip surface that enables us to hold things without them slipping off otherwise smooth skin.

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Rank: Albert Einstein (18,690) | Biology (49), Human (19), body (14)

4 minutes after the question was opened (09/20/2007 06:23pm)

Not only does it provide us a grip as duffy said it is now also used to provide identification.

Supplement from 09/20/2007 06:27pm:

Fingerprints are formed when our skin contracts around our fingers aound the middle of pregnancy. The dermal ridges, patterns etc... formed are unique as this never happens in the same way twice. Fingerprints are the remnants of this process.

As far as I know they do not have a noticable effect on being able to grip things. For example people can have no fingerprints (due to accidents with acids and the like) but still grip things successfully. Also we have toeprints which are just as unique but obviously toes do not serve this purpose.

http://www.answerbag.com/q_view /23919 copy

I thought you might be intrested to see this site as there is a few answers on this subject.

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8294 View profile Send message Neko2 Rank: Albert Einstein: Neko2

Interestingly, koalas have fingerprints that are almost identical to humans. I believe that they're closer to us in the dabs department than chimps. That's convergent evolution for you.