Introduction to Fingerprints and Fingerprint Analysis

No two people have exactly the same fingerprints, not even identical twins with identical DNA.

• True

• False

Fill in the blank: Fingerprint analysis has been used to identify suspects and solve crimes for more than ____ years.

• 100

• 20

• 10

• 5

Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a unique print used for identification?

• A) Fingers

• B) Palms

• C) Toes

• D) Elbows

What are fingerprints made by?

• Ink and paper

• Friction ridges and furrows

• Hair and skin

• Blood vessels

Which of the following is NOT one of the three main types of fingerprint patterns?

• Loops

• Whorls

• Arches

• Spirals

Which fingerprint pattern is described as prints that recurve back on themselves to form a loop shape and account for approximately 60 percent of pattern types?

• Loops

• Whorls

• Arches

• Tented Arches

Whorls form circular or spiral patterns and make up about ______ percent of pattern types.

• 35

• 20

• 50

• 10

Arches create a wave-like pattern and include plain arches and tented arches.

• True

• False

What is the principle called that states a person's fingerprints remain essentially unchanged throughout their lifetime?

• Permanence (or persistence)

• Plasticity

• Transference

• Variability

What are the three general pattern types used by analysts to make initial fingerprint comparisons?

• Loop, whorl, or arch

• Circle, square, or triangle

• Dot, dash, or line

• Spiral, zigzag, or wave