Who established fingerprint patterns and divided them into three types and eight sub-groups still used today?

The focus on Sir Francis Galton as the correct answer highlights his significant contributions to the study of fingerprint patterns. Galton was instrumental in the development of fingerprint classification systems. His work included systematic investigations into the nature of fingerprint variability, establishing the concept that each individual's fingerprints are unique and can be categorized.

He classified fingerprints into three primary patterns: loops, whorls, and arches, and further divided these into subgroups based on specific characteristics. This classification system laid the groundwork for modern fingerprint analysis techniques still utilized in forensic science and law enforcement today.

Understanding Galton's system is crucial for those in law enforcement, as it forms the backbone of fingerprint identification methods. The relevance of his contributions emphasizes the importance of systematic classification in forensic science, enabling more reliable identification of individuals through their unique fingerprints.