Cheiloscopy: The Study of Lip Prints

 

You have learned that finger ridges have unique characteristics helpful in the identification of an individual. Did you know that lips are also unique and can be used for identification. Cheiloscopy is the study of lip prints.

 

For example, suppose a bank robber was startled by an alarm just as the teller handed her the money. She grabbed the money and in her haste to get away, she ran smack-dab into the bank’s glass door. She managed to recover and get away. Subsequent examination of the door revealed a ChapstickÓ  imprint of the robber’s mouth on the glass. Since the robber was wearing gloves, no fingerprints were recovered from the glass. Later police picked up a suspect matching the description of the robber, but they needed evidence to link the suspect to the robbery. Can this problem be solved?

 

 

Data Table

 

 

 

Name of student

sketch of lip print

measure length in mm

measure width in mm

Lip Print Classification

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Procedures:

  1. Use a q-tip to apply lip balm to your lips. I also have colored lip stick.
  2. Fold the index card in half and press your lips on the crease. Unfold and label with your name.
  3. Go to the dusting station and use the magnetic dusting powder to gently dust your lip print.
  4. Cover the dusted lip print with clear tape.
  5. Record measurements of length and width with a metric ruler (measure in millimeters).
  6. Examine the lip print closely with a magnifier. Sketch your lip print in the data table. Pay attention to the shape and direction of the lines created by your lips.
  7. Examine, sketch and record the lip prints of 5 other students.

 

 

Analysis_

Creating a Lip Print Classification System

 

1.) Do the lip prints have similar patterns? Describe.

 

 

 

2.) Can the patterns be grouped and given descriptive labels? Describe them here:

 

3.) Develop a classification system for identifying different types of lip patterns

 

created by the line and crease patterns you observed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Postlab Questions  Use compete

sentences

 

 

 

1. Does the crime scene lip print fit into the classification system we developed? How would you classify the pattern?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Identify the robber.