How are fingerprints made and how do you find them?

Very kool site that helps children find their own fingerprints and explore the patterns their own fingers have. Great activity that embraces emotional and science.

Sourced from:  http://www.kcedventures.com/blog/fingerprint-science-for-kids

The study of fingerprints is called dactyloscopy and is used by detectives (such as the police, FBI and those that investigate crime scenes) and also medical personnel.

First, everyone has different fingerprints -- no two are alike (kind of like snowflakes).  And yes, even twins will have different prints.

Here's a great post from Livestrong about how fingerprints form in the womb.

Now even though we all have different fingerprints, there are really one three common types of prints:  arches, loops and whorls. 

After you create your own fingerprints at home, match them up to the prints in these photos to learn more about your individual fingerprint pattern.  Be sure to look at all the prints of family members -- do you all fall into the same pattern?

Doctors are researching how fingerprint patterns can tell us more about a person's health -- for example, they've found that those with ridges closer together are more likely to develop certain diseases later in life.