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ASK HN: Can a person's finger impression or fingerprint be genetically modified?
- Frenchgeek 9y agohttps://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/traits/fingerprints https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/traits/fingerprints Unlikely.
- smt88 9y agoYou mean like... after they're born? Or by modifying the sperm and/or egg producing the person? Edit: Doesn't matter. The answer is no. Fingerprints aren't determined by genes[1]. 1. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/06/science/06qna.html http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/06/science/06qna.html
- mattbgates 9y agoThe only way I believe that they can be modified is by literally burning them off or if you get a deep scar or cut, that can permanently alter the way they are. As far as "genetic modification" goes, likely not.
- ParameterOne 9y agoPersonally, I think anything is possible.
- lsiebert 9y agoNo it's set before birth. A future person's finger print could perhaps be modified, but it seems like we don't know all the genetic components behind fingerprints, and there are probably environmental factors as well. https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/traits/fingerprints https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/traits/fingerprints https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/are-ones-fingerprints-sim/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/are-ones-fingerpr...
- tabeth 9y agoYour fingerprint can't be "genetically modified," but I'm surprised at the amount of false information here. Burning your fingers or deep cuts will give you a new fingerprint (usually "none") [1]. AFAIK you can't change your fingerprint to a specific new one, though. [1] (NSFW) http://www.cse.msu.edu/~rossarun/pubs/FengJainRoss_AlteredFingerprint_TechReport09.pdf http://www.cse.msu.edu/~rossarun/pubs/FengJainRoss_AlteredFi...