# Can you transplant fingerprints?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-transplant-fingerprints/333283>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 29, 2005, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-transplant-fingerprints/333283 "2005-11-29T22:46:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mint\_my\_own](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mint\_my\_own](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mint_my_own)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2005, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-transplant-fingerprints/333283/1 "2005-11-29T22:46:53Z")

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Of course I recall that in Al Capone’s day some crooks would sand off their prints, which just grew back.  
But say you lost your prints in a tragic sanding _accident_. If you could find a donor would the new prints stick? Or would they be rejected and the old ones grow back?

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**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2005, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-transplant-fingerprints/333283/2 "2005-11-29T23:28:50Z")

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The old prints would grow back, but they could be marred by scar tissue.

I thought this thread would be about transplanted from one surface to another.  
In case anyone else thought that, and wants some info, here is a bookmark I’ve been saving for just such an occasion.

[Gummy bears can defeat fingerprint sensors](http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/05/16/gummi_bears_defeat_fingerprint_sensors/)

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**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-transplant-fingerprints/333283/3 "2005-11-30T01:03:50Z")

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I cut off part of my index finger in a tragic scissoring accident. It gouged a big hole right in the middle of the fingerprint. The fingerprint never grew back there. I doubt you could transplant tissue in a convincing way. Where is this fingerprint coming from anyway? Nevermind, I don’t want to know. It would need to be the right size, color, and shape too.

I think you would just end up with some of the most recognizable fingerprints on the planet with the combination of scar tissue, shape and color mismatches, and everything else.

What you want is whole new hands.

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**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-transplant-fingerprints/333283/4 "2005-11-30T01:29:15Z")

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> [@Shagnasty](#):
>
> What you want is whole new hands.

But Doc, after the operation, will I be able to play the piano? [rimshot]

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**Author:** ![deevee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@deevee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deevee)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2005, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-transplant-fingerprints/333283/5 "2005-11-30T02:14:35Z")

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Haven’t heard of it being done since the days of the Barker Gang and [Alvin “Creepy” Karvis](http://www.crimelibrary.com/gangsters_outlaws/outlaws/karpis/2.html) . It obviously didn’t keep him out of jail or prevent him from teaching Charles Manson the guitar.