It presents a historical overview of the development of fingerprint identification of criminals and scientific research into its application. Areas in neurology, anatomy, genetics, embryology, forensic comparison methodology, and scientific ethics that relate to modern friction ridge identification are identified. The methodology of the identification process of an examination is presented in three stages: analysis, comparison, and evaluation. Verification by another forensic identification investigator is not a part of the identification process, but rather a component of the scientific process. Other identification processes, such as edgeology and poroscopy, are described. Ridgeology confirms the status of friction ridge identification as a modern science. 25 figures and 202 references