DNA can outline the suspect's face

A breakthrough in genetic research could pave the way for a new way of preventing crime: replicating the face of suspects only with DNA.

Scientists can use genetic markers from DNA obtained from crime scenes to build up the complete image of the criminal's face. This breakthrough was made by American scientists in the study of the relationship between certain genetic markers and the shape of the human face.

To identify these genes, the scientists focused on known mutations that can cause special changes in the face and head. Non-mutant genes can tell about certain other characteristics. In total, there are about 20 different genes that affect the shape of the human face.

Reproduce the face image of the suspect with only DNA.(Photo: PA)

"The use of DNA to compare or identify an individual is no stranger, but DNA can give us more," said Professor Mark Shriver from Pennsylvania State University, USA. The team said. "We still cannot present a face from a set of DNA or vice versa, but this is possible."

If successful, the scope of application of this study is very large. In addition, the study paved the way for building a data bank of face type, based on genetic markers . DNA from the scene of cases can be used to produce a sketch of the suspect's or victim's face, and these sketches are much more reliable than computer-generated sketches. out based on the description of the witnesses.

Other applications of this technology include proving one's identity in determining paternity, or recreating our distant ancestral image from fossil DNA.

According to information published by scientists in the online journal Public Library of Science Genetics: "These sketches can be very useful for forensic work, such as field DNA cases that can be analysis, to predict the suspect's face and thereby narrow the scope of the investigation ".

"Our methods can be used to estimate the face characteristics of deceased people, distant ancestors and even extinct human species. In addition, these methods may be effective diagnostic tools ".

The team developed a model that included a series of facial shapes for people with Western African and European ancestors from Brazil and Cape Verde. A grid point is projected onto the 3D rendering of faces to obtain a series of measurements. Later, these data were put into action to find the relationship between the differences in facial features with gender, ethnic ancestors and individual gene variants.