| By now virtually everyone is aware that | | | | graphite or carbon based powder. |
| fingerprints are a major source of evidence that | | | | The dark powder will tend to adhere to the oils |
| is used to solve many crimes that have occurred. | | | | that the persons hand has left behind as a finger |
| However; what exactly is it that makes | | | | print. Then a clear tape is laid over the now |
| fingerprints such a reliable source of information | | | | darkened finger print and the result is a exact |
| for identifying individuals who may or may have | | | | duplicate of the print stuck to the clear tape. |
| not perpetuated a crime? | | | | Since those early years new technologies have |
| The truth, is that there are only seven unique | | | | been developed to gather degraded or latent |
| variables that comprise each persons fingerprint. | | | | finger prints. Many of these methods use |
| However; it is how these variable are arranged | | | | chemicals in gassious form that will adhere to the |
| that separates one fingerprint from another. In | | | | organic material, rather then the oil which may |
| fact, in spite of there only being seven variables, | | | | have dried or become degraded. |
| no two fingerprints have ever been found to be | | | | Most recently, new computer software has been |
| alike out of the billions that have been taken world | | | | developed to assist in the gathering of fingerprints |
| wide. | | | | that would otherwise been unusable. For instance, |
| It was back in the late 1800's that the science of | | | | one new computer program is able to eliminate |
| fingerprinting first began to be used forensically to | | | | background patterns on textured surfaces such |
| solve crimes. It was back then that the basic | | | | as fabrics or hard articles such as knife blades and |
| methods for collection were first developed. Of | | | | gun handles that have been scuffed to make |
| those the most common was to dust the print | | | | fingerprinting difficult. |
| with a light feather duster that had been dipped in | | | | |