Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I REALLY NEED HELP!! ahh
my science fair project is on `Are fingerprint patterns inherited?`however Im confused in what the dependent variable of this project will be!!
I found that....
Specific Experiment: Are fingerprint Patterns inherited?
Independent Variable: Fingerprints of different people
Dependent Variable:
Controlled Variables: The tools for all fingerprint sampling, the finger used for the fingerprint (Thumb), and the people surveyed (people living in Canada)

BUT IM SOO LOST IN WHAT THE DEPENDENT VARIABLE WILL BE!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP!! PLEASE

Hello and Welcome to the Forums!

I moved your question to life sciences hoping that someone there knows more about fingerprints than I do. I think that you need to define which characteristics about fingerprints that you are measuring first, then you can know what your variables are.

Keith

Hi ronisha,

It looks like you're doing this Science Buddies experiment: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... ?from=Blog

The inheritance of fingerprints is an interesting question! Here is a previous thread with a similar question, including the dependent and independent variables:
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... 8&start=15

In general, your INDEPENDENT variable is the one that you can change. In your case, that would be your different people, or really how related your different people are to one another.

The DEPENDENT variable is the one that changes in response to the independent variable. In your case, the different fingerprint characteristics you measure will be dependent on how related your subjects are.

I hope that helps. Feel free to post back if you have more questions.

Heather