Reliable method of identification of
person is ?
a) Gustafson’s method
b) Galton method
c) Scar
d) Anthropometry
Correct Answer - B
Ans. is ‘b’ i.e., Galton method
Galton method or Finger prints or dactylography is the best system
of identification till date.
The fingerprints are capable of endless variation so that there is one
chance in sixty four billions of two persons having identical prints.
Dactylography / Dermatoglvphics / Galton system / Finger prints
Finger prints are present from birth both on epidermis and dermis,
remain constant through out life and can’t be altered without
destroying true skin.
Finger print pattern is absolutely individual i.e. no two hands are
entirely alike, not even identical twins. That’s why, it is best (most
sensitive and most specific) and most reliable method of
identification (Quetelet’s rule of biological variation). DNA finger
printing may be same in monozygotic twins.
The pattern is neither inherited nor identical in any two persons. So
the paternity cannot be proved through finger print patterns.
However, paternity can be proved by DNA finger printing.
Loops (67% most common) > whorls (25%) > arches (7%) >
composite (2% least common) are four main types of pattern.
It is accepted that chances of 2 finger prints matching 16 ridge
characteristic are infinitely small (Parikh’s). Inpractice 8 - 16 (Reddy)
/ 16 - 20 (Seth, Simpson) points of fine comparision are accepted as
proof of identity.
Locard’s poroscopy method is study of microscopic pores, formed
by mouths of ducts of subepidermal sweatgland present on ridges of
fingers. These pores are permanent, remain un changed during life
and are very usefulwhen only fragments of fingerprints are available.
Each milimeter contains 9 - 18 pores.
Criminals may attempt to multilate finger prints by applying CO2
snow, corrosive agents, burns or eroding against hard surface. But
these manners do not destroy finger prints permanently unless true
skin is completely destroyed