Why are fingerprints different between people?
Short answer
The tiny lines on our fingertips form while a baby is growing before birth. Inherited traits and small differences during that growth combine to make fingerprint patterns different.
How do fingerprint ridges form?
The raised lines on a fingertip are called friction ridges. They form before birth. Genes help shape their patterns, and small differences as each finger grows help shape the fine details. Scientists do not yet know every step in this process.
Do identical twins have the same fingerprints?
Identical twins share most of their genetic information, but the tiny conditions that shape their finger ridges are not exactly the same. Their broad patterns may look alike, while the fine details differ.
Do fingerprints change as we grow?
As fingers grow, fingerprint patterns grow with them. Their basic arrangement usually stays much the same.