Besides identification purposes, why do we have fingerprints?
2006-11-27 07:55:25 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
The ridges increases your surface area of your fingers. It helps you to grip small items without crushing them. Geckos have a lot more ridges than we do, and they can vertically climb up windows!
Notice how your left and right fingerprints are almost mirror images to each other? Cool!
2006-11-27 08:00:41 · answer #1 · answered by borscht 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The ridges are caused by layers of skin called dermal papillae. The purpose finger prints serve to keep things from slipping in your hands.
2006-11-27 16:11:26 · answer #2 · answered by drakegta 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The ridged skin on our fingertips helps us to grip objects. There is no particular reason for the individual patterns, though.
2006-11-27 16:00:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Traction. It improves our grip on tree branches, clubs and our own poo. You know, before we evolved.
2006-11-27 16:01:49 · answer #4 · answered by katz149 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋