Why are fingerprints unique, even in identical twins? 🤔

While identical twins have identical genes and genetic makeup, recent research points to other factors that may lead to different fingerprints.

Fingerprints are formed before birth and maintained throughout life. It is a complex process involving not just the skin but also underlying tissue, sweat glands, and hair follicles.

Researchers have shown that hair follicle development is truncated in the palms of the fetus, leading to the development of ridges on the skin and eventually fingerprints.

An interplay of three signaling pathways (WNT, BMP, and EDAR) orchestrates the development of fingerprints.

Checkout the full research paper published in the journal Cell at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2023.01.015

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