When during gestation are fingerprints typically formed?

Fingerprints are typically formed during the third and fourth months of gestation, reason being that this period is critical for the development of the integumentary system, which includes the skin and its various components, such as fingerprints. During this stage, the papillary ridges on the skin, which give rise to the unique patterns of fingerprints, begin to develop clearly. This timing is significant for understanding both the biological formation of individuality and potential forensic applications in identifying individuals based on their fingerprints.

The other options do not align with the biological timeline of fingerprint development; the first month is too early since major formation processes regarding skin structures have not yet begun, while the fifth and seventh months occur after the critical period for the establishment of fingerprints, when their patterns are already set.