Advancement in Human Face Prediction Using DNA

Abstract

The rapid improvements in identifying the genetic factors contributing to facial morphology have enabled the early identification of craniofacial syndromes. Similarly, this technology can be vital in forensic cases involving human identification from biological traces or human remains, especially when reference samples are not available in the deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA) database. This review summarizes the currently used methods for predicting human phenotypes such as age, ancestry, pigmentation, and facial features based on genetic variations. To identify the facial features affected by DNA, various two-dimensional (2D)- and three-dimensional (3D)-scanning techniques and analysis tools are reviewed. A comparison between the scanning technologies is also presented in this review. Face-landmarking techniques and face-phenotyping algorithms are discussed in chronological order. Then, the latest approaches in genetic to 3D face shape analysis are emphasized. A systematic review of the current markers that passed the threshold of a genome-wide association (GWAS) of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-face traits from the GWAS Catalog is also provided using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA), approach. Finally, the current challenges in forensic DNA phenotyping are analyzed and discussed.

Recognizability of Demographically Altered Computerized Facial Approximations in an Automated Facial Recognition Context for Potential Application in Unidentified Persons Data Repositories

“…3; lower ranks reflect superior performance). These mean ranks are consistent with the upper terminus of the overall blind search R 50 mean rank range (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15) reported earlier [13]. The overall blind search R 25 and R 10 mean ranks (6-12 and 3-6, respectively) observed in this study were similarly consistent with the mean ranks (6-12 and 3-4, respectively) reported by the authors for corresponding rank classes [13].…”

“…Accurate sex estimation, for example, declines to ≈90-92% when only the cranium is examined [7,13]. Genomic and proteomic methods of sex determination are highly successful, even from degraded and archaeological bones [8], and genetic testing offers relatively crude estimations of ethnicity [14] as well as predictions of facial and other phenotypic features [15], but resources do not always permit their use. When a complete set of remains is unavailable, indeterminate estimations and errors may occur, a problematic situation that may falsely exclude individuals from a short list of potential candidates.…”

Curious about race: Generous methods and modes of knowing in practice

“…Scientists generally acknowledge that they are currently only scratching the surface in terms of the ‘genetic architecture of the face’, which is known to be utterly complex (e.g. Alshehhi et al, 2023; Naqvi et al, 2022; Sero et al, 2019). The hope however is that, even in its current state, DNA phenotyping could be useful in forensic practice to narrow pools of potential suspects (Naqvi et al, 2022).…”

Forensic DNA Phenotyping: Genes and Genetic Variants for Eye Color Prediction

“…The FDP tool consists of two components: (1) a multiplex genotyping tool to analyze several DNA markers, and (2) a validated prediction model to obtain a high probability of appearance prediction. Moreover, the age estimation of the sample can also be obtained from epigenetic data by analysis of specific CpG sites [16,17], as can the identification of craniofacial features based on genetic variation [18]. However, there are some limitations to the recent and earlier studies on forensically DNA-based appearance, ancestry, and age prediction.…”