What is a characteristic of friction ridge patterns regarding their uniqueness?

Friction ridge patterns, which include the skin patterns found on human palms and fingers, are known for their uniqueness among individuals. Each person has distinct ridge patterns that are formed during fetal development, making them a reliable method for identification in forensic science. The statement that they are never duplicated illustrates this principle of uniqueness. In practice, while there might be similarities between the ridge patterns of different individuals, the likelihood of an exact duplicate occurring is virtually nonexistent. This characteristic is the foundation of fingerprint analysis, as it allows forensic experts to match latent prints found at crime scenes to known individuals with a high degree of confidence.