Did you know that…
identical twins have identical DNA but not identical fingerprints? why? because DNA does not control finger skin patterns.
Do Identical Twins Have Identical Fingerprints?
Identical twins generate a lot of curiosity. And a lot of misconceptions! Parents of multiples have probably not given a great deal of thought to their childrens’ fingerprint patterns, but the general public has spent a lot of time wondering about this topic.
So, do identical twins have identical fingerprints? The basic answer is NO. Identical — or monozygotic — twins form when a single fertilized egg splits in two after conception. Because they form from a single zygote, the two individuals will have the same genetic makeup. Their DNA is virtually indistinguishable.
However, fingerprints are not an entirely genetic characteristic. Scientists love to use this topic as an example of the old “nature vs. nurture” debate. Fingerprinting, along with other physical characteristics, is an example of a phenotype — meaning that it is determined by the interaction of an indivdual’s genes and the developmental environment in the uterus.
The ultimate shape of fingerprints are believed to be influenced by environmental factors during pregnancy, like nutrition, blood pressure, position in the womb and the growth rate of the fingers at the end of the first trimester. Thus, you will find similar partterns of whorls and ridges in the fingerprints of identical twins. But there will also be differences — just as there are differences between the fingers on any individual’s hands.
Suppose one identical twin commits a crime. How do you tell which twin did it if the DNA is identical? Well, you don’t use DNA analysis since the DNA is the same. You dust for fingerprints. Genes only set the pattern for the fingerprint. The print develops in a placenta environment that differs somewhat for each twin. That, in turn, results in similar but different fingerprints.
