Dear William (and Daniel, Catherine, Michael & Baby Girl Y) (and your parents), (and any future descendants and their parents),

Hey, William — do you want to see my fingerprints?

Here is a closeup of my left hand fingerprints:

Friction ridges of a human finger

A fingerprint is an impression left by the friction ridges of a human finger.

A print from the foot can also leave an impression of friction ridges.

A friction ridge is a raised portion of the skin on the fingers and toes, the palm of the hand or the sole of the foot, consisting of one or more connected ridge units of friction ridge skin.

Apparently, no two fingerprints have ever been found identical. However, the subjective nature of comparing and matching fingerprints, despite a very low error rate, has made this forensic practice controversial.

I have been fingerprinted several times — all of them for identification purposes; e.g., when I became a N.Y.C. Auxiliary Police Officer; when I joined the military; and when I applied for various licenses (e.g., to be an attorney).

Some people are fingerprinted when they are arrested — fortunately, I have not!

Hey, William — did you know that zebras have patterns on their fur that are similar to human fingerprints, in that each zebra has a unique fur pattern?!

I believe that the hospital took impressions of the soles of your feet when you were born — ask your Parents about that; I bet that those prints are very cool.

Love,

Dziadziuś Paweł.

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