Why do we have fingerprints?

THAT'S THE WHY:MANY AN old-fashioned detective story has revolved around a set of tell-tale fingerprints left at the crime scene. Meanwhile, those whorls and grooves etched into your fingertips are a constant reminder of your uniqueness in the world.

But aside from anchoring plot lines and identifying you to the authorities, do fingerprints serve any other functions?

More than one theory is on offer. One is that those ridges and furrows help our fingers to grip surfaces, although a UK study raised questions about that assumption last year when it showed that fingerprints actually reduced friction when a flat, dry surface (perspex) was slid across the skin of the fingertips.

Another suggestion is that fingerprints can help heighten the sense of touch by fine-tuning information from surfaces.

Your fingertips contain nerve endings called Pacinian corpuscles that pick up tiny vibrations created when your fingers rub against an object.

Last year, French researchers published a study where they artificially rigged a sensor with fingerprints-like etchings. Their set-up demonstrated that the tiny raised ridges could vibrate in a manner that Pacinian corpuscles would pick up.

So the argument goes that in real life a fingerprint could transmit signals to nerve endings about the fine texture of the structure it is scanning and so help to increase your tactile sensitivity.

But in short, as far as fingerprints go, their function still needs some detective work.

– CLAIRE O’CONNELL