The face as folded object: Race and the problems with ‘progress’ in forensic DNA phenotyping

Abstract

Forensic DNA phenotyping (FDP) encompasses a set of technologies aimed at predicting phenotypic characteristics from genotypes. Advocates of FDP present it as the future of forensics, with an ultimate goal of producing complete, individualised facial composites based on DNA. With a focus on individuals and promised advances in technology comes the assumption that modern methods are steadily moving away from racial science. Yet in the quantification of physical differences, FDP builds upon some nineteenth- and twentieth-century scientific practices that measured and categorised human variation in terms of race. In this article I complicate the linear temporal approach to scientific progress by building on the notion of the folded object. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in various genetic laboratories, I show how nineteenth- and early twentieth-century anthropological measuring and data-collection practices and statistical averaging techniques are folded into the ordering of measurements of skin color data taken with a spectrophotometer, the analysis of facial shape based on computational landmarks and the collection of iris photographs. Attending to the historicity of FDP facial renderings, I bring into focus how race comes about as a consequence of temporal folds.

Between pencils and genetic markers: Rethinking innovation in policing through forensic face-making technologies

“…For the lack of attention to more mundane technologies in policing is not limited to police organizations themselves, but is reflected in social studies of science as well. Whereas ample attention has been paid to FDP (see Hopman, 2021; Hopman and M’charek, 2020; M’charek, 2016, 2020; Ossorio, 2006; Wienroth et al, 2014), facial composite drawings have received relatively little (for an exception see Nieves Delgado, 2020).…”

DNA as in‐formation

“…The approach is thus not only to compare different DNA samples, but to predict, for example, typical physical features and age from a sample. This information can be of valuable assistance in investigations, at the same time as it poses new challenges: it moves the focus from individual suspects to suspicious groups (M'charek and Wade 2020), where the use of skin color and morphology can reinforce stereotypical conceptions of race (M'charek 2020, Hopman 2021). It also introduces procedures that open the door for new forms of profiling that will require thorough ethical assessment.…”

“…Based on this input data, an algorithm creates correlations between pigmentation genes and physiognomic expressions. These readings are then organized into categorical classifications (Hopman 2021). A similar process is used to infer morphological traits.…”

“…Erin Murphy reminds us, however, that "DNA typing-done perfectly and precisely according to protocol-still often entails making discretionary calls and choices" (Murphy 2008, p. 491). For example, decisions need to be taken about how to categorize expressions of pigmentation and how to standardize morphological features (Hopman 2021). The software needs to assign visual values to DNA samples despite uncertainty about what can be considered noise and what is actual signal in the sample.…”

Variación genética del color del iris en la población bonaerense

“…El uso de variantes genéticas para inferir EVCs está permitido por ley en Holanda desde el 2003, siempre que estén definidas desde el nacimiento. Actualmente, el país permite la determinación del sexo, la ancestría biogeográfica, y el color del pelo y del iris a partir de ADN con fines identificatorios (Hopman, 2021). En Eslovaquia, el testeo de EVCs se encuentra permitido (Samuel y Prainsack, 2019), y a finales del 2019 Alemania aprobó la predicción de EVCs (pigmentación y edad) (Granja y Machado, 2020).…”