Scientists Wonder What Fingerprints Are For

Hugh Pickens writes "The BBC reports that scientists say they have disproved the theory that fingerprints improve grip by increasing friction between people's fingers and the surface they are holding. Dr Roland Ennos designed a machine which enabled him to measure the amount of friction generated by a fingerprint when it was in contact with an acrylic glass at varying levels of pressure. The results showed that friction levels increased by a much smaller amount than had been anticipated, debunking the hypothesis that fingerprints provide an improved grip. Ennos believes that fingerprints may have evolved to grip onto rough surfaces, like tree bark; the ridges may allow our skin to stretch and deform more easily, protecting it from damage; or they may allow water trapped between our finger pads and the surface to drain away and improve surface contact in wet conditions. Other researchers have suggested that the ridges could increase our fingerpads' touch sensitivity."

Intelligent design

[Anonymous Coward]

It's obvious fingerprints were designed by our creator to help the Police catch murderers.

CSI may have an alternate hypothesis to their use.

[gblackwo]

I also love how they never counterweight their centrifuges.

Prevent excess masturbation

[Anonymous Coward]

Then we invented lube

Re:what do you think?

[Mascot]

Just one more thing science can't answer. Of course the answer is obvious but no scientist would ever consider that.

Agreed. I'm not a scientist and to me the answer is as obvious as it is to you.

It is clearly a case of aliens genetically modifying the species to easily identify individuals; we do the same in tagging wildlife.

Ridged for extra pleasure?

[itsdapead]

Sorry.

I'll get my coat.

Re:what do you think?

[aplusjimages]

Hi 120795, I'm 939458. It's very nice to meet you.

Re:Maybe they're for nothing?

[aplusjimages]

Not everything has to have a purpose.

Sometimes parents can be mean.

Finally an answer!

[Anonymous Coward]

I can't tell you how many times I've been out back, trying to climb up my giant sheet of plexiglass, wondering why I just can't seem to get a good grip.

Now I know! Thank you, "scientists"!

Re:Intelligent design

[MickyTheIdiot]

even God is hooked on watching CSI!

Re:Unlikely.

[El Jynx]

Depends. Do monitor lizards climb walls and get pulled off by Hulks? If so, probably both.

It seems pretty apparent...

[gbickford]

Celestial barcodes. The gods are thinking of moving towards an RFID based solution but for now it works.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Picking your nose

[goombah99]

Picking your nose seems like a good enough reason.

Re:Intelligent design

[mark-t]

Close... they were designed by our creators so that _they_ could tell us apart... because otherwise we all look too much alike to them. Like a field of daisies.

Ribbed for extra ...?

[wisty]

Perhaps they helped attract mates?

Re:Ridged for extra pleasure?

[Anonymous Coward]

Make sure you have more than just the coat, okay?

Re:Primates

[Provocateur]

And all this time I thought the fingerprints evolved for gripping the modern day equivalent of tree branches: subway straps and bus door handles.

Re:What fingerprints are for

[Bob9113]

Other than that they serve no other purpose, like wasps.

Hey, if it weren't for WASPs, who would shop at The Gap or Banana Republic? Who would buy purse-sized dogs? And who would keep psychotherapists and badminton set manufacturers in business?

Re:what do you think?

[Tubal-Cain]

More accurately, the rainbow was representative of the promise that God would never again destroy the whole earth with water. We get fire next time.

Re:Ribbed for extra ...?

[Jah-Wren Ryel]

Perhaps they helped attract mates?

Naturally ribbed, err... fingers, for her pleasure?

Obvious!

[AmigaMMC]

Since we were genetically engineered by an extraterrestrial civilization they designed fingerprints in our DNA so that they could catalog us for later use.

Re:what do you think?

[Hognoxious]

Where is the missing link?

Depends who you vote for.

He's either in the White House, or he just left it. DrrrTISH.

Re:ummm where did captain obvious go?

[jez9999]

I'm posting from a Commodore 64, you insensitive clod.

Re:Primates

[beowulfcluster]

Fingerprints would probably evolve away within a few generations if people didn't need the increased friction on the iPod click wheel.

It is to sign prayers..

[Douglas Goodall]

When you hold your hands together and pray, the fingerprints sign the prayer so God knows who it came from. That is why you hold your hands in front of your face in the usual pose. The prayer passes over both hands on it's way to God.