What is the purpose of fingerprints?

[Masu485]

I understand they are made for gripping objects, but what is the point of everyone's being different?

It's as if they were developed in part for identification.

[iifold]

good question...

thinking it has something to do with math...

like snowflakes probably...

[TheCentaur]

In theory after many many years we should become a population of smooth fingertipped criminals

[FourLengthsClear]

Reduced surface area in contact with an object = less friction = less prone to blistering.