A defence counsel argues that fingerprints change over time and therefore cannot identify a person reliably. The correct rebuttal is that friction ridges:
- A Develop between the third and sixth months of intrauterine life and remain permanent and unique throughout life ✓
- B Are fully formed by the second month of intrauterine life
- C Change progressively after puberty due to skin growth
- D Become indistinct after 60 years of age, limiting elderly identification
Correct answer: A. Develop between the third and sixth months of intrauterine life and remain permanent and unique throughout life
Explanation
Friction ridge patterns are laid down between the third and sixth month of fetal life, are determined genetically but individually unique even in identical twins, and persist unchanged throughout life. Only destruction of the dermis, such as deep burns or deliberate scarification, permanently alters the pattern, and even then the surrounding ridges remain identifiable. Superficial injuries and ageing affect only the sharpness of the print, not the pattern itself.
Reference: Parikh's Textbook of Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology, 7th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.