Ask A Scientist© Biology Archive

name         Joe
status       educator

Question -   If you were to clone a human, would the fingerprints of
the clone and original human be the same?
-----------------------------------------------------
Joe,

The prints should be the same to the extent they are the result of genetic
development.  If the source of the clone, however, cut or burned or
otherwise damaged its 'fingerprint area', the result would not be seen on
the clone.  In general, any 'experience' (non-genetic) influences on traits
will not be seen in the offspring unless they are changes which directly
influenced/altered the source cloning cells genetic material.


Good question!
Thanks for using NEWTON!


Richard R. Rupnik
Internal Quality Auditor
Lucent Technologies
============================================

Actually, this experiment has been done. Identical twins are a type of
clone.  It turns out that their fingerprints are similar, but not identical.


                Richard Barrans Jr., Ph.D.
          
============================================
Nature provides us with the natural form of clones:
identical twins share the same genetic makeup and even
developed in the same uterus. Nevertheless, their
fingerprints are not identical, though similar. The
formation of fingerprints is partly the result of a
stochastic process.


Dr. Trudy Wassenaar

============================================


Identical twins don't have the same fingerprints because although
fingerprints are determined genetically, they are modified in the womb by
differences in pressure on the fingertips, etc. during development.  So as
long as a clone was incubated in a womb or other aqueous environment I would
have to say that their fingerprints would be subject to the same
modifications.  So, I would guess no.

Van Hoeck

==============================================