Which of the following is an example of an individual characteristic?

• A. DNA/Fingerprints
• B. Color
• C. Size
• D. Manufacturing pattern

Answer: (A)

Individual characteristics are features that can uniquely identify a single source. DNA and fingerprints are classic examples because, for all practical purposes, they are unique to each person and can be used to link evidence to a specific individual. In contrast, color and size describe properties shared by many items and can vary with conditions or measurement, so they don’t point to a single source. Manufacturing pattern is tied to how something is produced and can be the same across many items from the same batch, making it a class characteristic rather than an identifying feature of one object. That's why DNA or fingerprints are the best example of an individual characteristic.