Biochemistry Quarter 4 Benchmark

dtaylor — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 12:33:54 -0400

(Didn't Have Time to Describe Sorry)

Biochemistry - Red - 07

Eww Mice!

sashby — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 11:51:00 -0400

This is my final Science Fair Project write up.

Biochemistry - Red - 07

Are Fingerprints Hereditary?

eduarte — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 08:31:26 -0400

Abstract:

There are several means to identify people today, and they are called “biometric techniques.” One technique requires the use of fingerprints. Fingerprint recognition has most recently been used in the twentieth century as a means of identifying criminals in the American judicial system. Since the 1980s and in the early 1990s, fingerprints have not been needed because the forensic scientists are able to use DNA to identify the criminals.

In this research, two experiments will address the same question: “Can fingerprints be used to identify genetic family members?” Fingerprints can be characterized in to seven different types: loop (L), pocket loops (PL), double loops (DL), arches (A), tent arches (TA), whorls (W), and Mixed (M).

Hypothesis:

The hypothesis is that no one has similar or the same fingerprints even though they are in the immediate family.

Materials:
•   Inkpad
•   Paper
•   Magnifying lens
•   2 families with female offspring
•   2 families with male offspring

Procedures:
1)   Two male and female offspring of the families will get fingerprinted using the five fingers on the right hand.
2)   The other two male and female offspring of the families will get fingerprinted using the five fingers on the left hand.
3)   The parents will be fingerprinted the same way as their offspring (mothers first, then the fathers)
4)   Using the magnifying lens, look and compare the different patterns and record observations by labeling the fingerprints using seven types: loop (L), pocket loops (PL), double loops (DL), arches (A), tent arches (TA), whorls (W), and Mixed (M).

Data:

Are Fingerprints Hereditary?

   Child   Father   Mother
Male Family 1       L          L             L
Male Family 2       L      L   L
Female Family 1    L    L L
Female Family 2    A    A        W

Key
A-Arch
TA-Tentarch
L-Loop
DL-Double Loop
PL-Pocked Loop
W-Whorl
M-Mixed

Data Analysis:

What was found in the data was that for Male Families 1 and 2 resulted in the child having similar fingerprints. Female Family 2 showed the same as the Male Family. Female family shows that both the child and the father have similar fingerprints. Without the mother’s fingerprints it is hard to say whether the child has similar fingerprints.

Observations:

Well, while collecting data, some of the subjects were concerned of the confidentiality of the experiment. The data seemed to show the children do have similar fingerprints to their parents.

Conclusion:

There were problems along the way. One of the problems was finding volunteers who were willing to help. This experiment shows that yes the children do have similar fingerprints as there parents. This experiment is still on going. To make the experiment much more interesting it would be good to find children with siblings and check there fingerprints for similarity.

Citations:

• Fingerprints. Ed. Bill Willis. 2001. Worsley School. 29 May 2007 <http://www.worsleyschool.net/science/files/finger/prints.html>.

• Fung , K. E. (2005). In Are Fingerprints Hereditary? A Statistical Analysis.

Biochemistry - Red - 07

Biochemistry - Red - 07

Biochemistry Quarter 4 Benchmark

Eww Mice!

Are Fingerprints Hereditary?