Which Parent Affects the Fingerprint's Patterns More?
Fingerprints are formed in the womb as the skin forms. Since there is no genetic association with fingerprint formation, the father has nothing to do with the process. The mother, who is carrying the child during the process, is the only parent who has anything to do with the fingerprints, though none of her genetic code is contributing to the process either.
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Skin Layers
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The skin is not simply called "skin." There are different skin layers, which include the epidermis and the dermis. The dermis is inside the body, closest to the internal veins and arteries. The basal epidermis lies next to the dermis and holds the upper epidermis, which is the skin seen by humans. A minor scratch that does not bleed will only break the upper and possibly basal epidermis; a bleeding scratch has broken the dermis.
Skin Formation
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Skin forms over the fetus, dermis first and epidermis layers later. By the second trimester, the fetus has its organs intact, housed by the skin cells. As the skin is forming, it is creating the fingerprints in the fingers, making them permanent by the 17th week of pregnancy. This process happens before the fetus has fully developed its bone structure.
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Stress Causes Ridges
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There is a sandwiching effect in the formation of the basal epidermis. This effect causes the basal epidermis to buckle under the stress, or pressure, of forming. During this buckling, fingerprints are formed. Since the fingerprints are embedded in the basal epidermis, superficial wounds to the fingers do not destroy the patterns.
Scientific Studies
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As of 2011, fingerprints are still a mystery to scientists. The aforementioned fingerprint formations and parental contribution is all theory; however, scientists are positive that fingerprints cannot be inherited through genetic code because of the uniqueness of every fingerprint. Children of natural multiple birth even have different fingerprints.
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References
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