What determines your fingerprint pattern?

Asked by: Anonymous

The general type of fingerprint you have – such as the mixture of whorls, arches and loops – is genetically determined, but your specific pattern is not. This is moulded in the uterus from about three months’ gestation – so even twins don’t have identical fingerprints. Wounds and scratches can obliterate part of a fingerprint, but it will still grow back to the same individual pattern.

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