Predicting Human Appearance Traits Based on DNA Markers for Forensic and Criminal Purposes

The paper by Maria Agnieszka Kaczmarek and Wojciech Zysek presents an overview of the current knowledge on genetic markers that allow for the prediction of human phenotypic traits based on a DNA sample extracted from biological material collected at a crime scene. This process is referred to as forensic DNA phenotyping (FDP). The paper discusses the molecular basis of FDP, DNA markers used to predict sex, age, biogeographic origin, and physical features such as skin, eye, and hair color, hair morphology, facial morphology, presence of freckles, body height, body mass (obesity), male pattern baldness, and myopia. The authors also highlight the methodological difficulties arising from the polygenic inheritance model of the studied traits, the socio-ethical issues accompanying forensic DNA phenotyping, and outline the prospects for the development of this research.