Identification: practice question

A Forensic Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Forensic Medicine · Identification

Sample item

Why are fingerprints useful in forensic identification?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Ridge patterns are highly individual and persist through life

Friction-ridge patterns are highly individual, stable over life, and can be compared with known records when sufficiently preserved.

Option by option

  • A. Ridge patterns are highly individual and persist through life (correct)

    Correct: stable individual ridge detail supports comparison.

  • B. They disappear after adolescence

    Fingerprints do not normally disappear after adolescence.

  • C. Fingerprints are identical in all siblings

    Siblings do not share identical fingerprint patterns.

  • D. They determine a person's blood group

    Blood group cannot be read from fingerprint pattern.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Forensic Medicine questions

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is A, Ridge patterns are highly individual and persist through life. Friction-ridge patterns are highly individual, stable over life, and can be compared with known records when sufficiently preserved.

Why is "They disappear after adolescence" not the answer?

Fingerprints do not normally disappear after adolescence.

Why is "Fingerprints are identical in all siblings" not the answer?

Siblings do not share identical fingerprint patterns.

Why is "They determine a person's blood group" not the answer?

Blood group cannot be read from fingerprint pattern.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Identification in Forensic Medicine. The correct option holds because: Correct: stable individual ridge detail supports comparison.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Identification?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.