If pattern types are shared between fingerprints, how is individualization achieved?

If pattern types are shared between fingerprints, how is individualization achieved?

• A. By comparing pattern orientation alone.
• B. By matching the overall ridge flow rate.
• C. By evaluating minutiae points and confirming enough points match to distinguish individuals.
• D. By analyzing the color of the ridges.

Answer: (C)

Pattern types classify fingerprints into broad groups (like loops, arches, and whorls). These broad categories are shared by many people, so they don’t uniquely identify an individual. Individualization comes from minutiae—the exact points where ridges end or split, plus their precise arrangement and relative positions. By comparing these minutiae across prints and confirming that enough matching minutiae line up in the same locations and orientations, you can distinguish one person from another. Ridge flow or general pattern alone won’t provide that unique signature, and color of the ridges isn’t relevant to identity.