ABSTRACT
The two premises that govern fingerprint examinations are that friction ridge impressions are unique and persistent. Various developmental processes including genetics, the mother’s nutrition, the position of the fetus, the fetal environment, growth stresses, the topography and thickness of the developing skin, bone formation and morphology, and the timing and rate of ridge maturation govern the unique arrangement of features in a friction ridge impression. The deepest layer of the epidermis, known as the basal layer, serves as the blueprint for the generation of friction ridge skin. This blueprint remains persistent throughout an individual’s life, barring scarring or mutilation. The laboratory exercises in this chapter explore the mechanisms of friction ridge development.
