Abbas Abdulrazzaq Hashim
Department of English
Fingerprint
Introduction
In today’s world, there are numerous ways to secure your phone or any electronic device. You might use a security code, a traditional password, facial recognition (Face ID), or even voice recognition. Finally, there’s the classic fingerprint authentication, which remains one of the most secure methods. Unlike other security measures, your fingerprint cannot be replicated. Voice recognition can be tricked using a recorded voice, and even Face ID, despite being highly advanced, can sometimes be bypassed—for example, identical twins have been shown to unlock each other’s phones using facial recognition. Similarly, passwords can often be guessed by someone close to you, using birthdays or anniversaries. However, fingerprints are entirely unique, making them an exceptional security feature.
Types of Fingerprints
Fingerprints consist of raised ridges on the skin, known as friction ridges, which contain sweat pores connected to sweat glands beneath the skin. This is why fingerprints leave impressions when touching objects. These ridges form specific patterns, which are not random but categorized into three types:
Arch Patterns – Found in about 5% of the population, consisting of symmetrical, layered arches.
Whorl Patterns – Circular or spiral patterns, appearing in around 30-35% of people.
Loop Patterns – The most common type, found in 60-65% of individuals, where ridges enter from one side, rise, and curve around.
Even thousands of years ago, the Chinese noticed the uniqueness of fingerprints and used them for authentication. Emperors and rulers would sign important documents using their thumbprints. In the 19th century, scientists began studying fingerprints more systematically. In 1877, Henry Faulds developed a method to record fingerprints using ink, and in 1892, Sir Francis Galton scientifically proved that no two people have identical fingerprints not even identical twins.
The uniqueness of fingerprints is due to two main factors:
Genetic Factors – Siblings and parents may have similar fingerprints, but never identical ones.
Environmental Influences – A fetus’s position in the womb, blood pressure, oxygen levels, maternal nutrition, and even amniotic fluid affect fingerprint development. These variations ensure that even identical twins have distinct fingerprints.
