Genomic Portraiture: The Science and Ethics of DNA Phenotyping in Identity Prediction
July 2025
in “
Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology
”
Studysummary This review highlights how the development of forensic DNA phenotyping systems like IrisPlex, HIrisPlex, and HIrisPlex-S has advanced criminal investigation by accurately predicting physical traits such as eye, hair, and skin color from DNA, thereby improving the precision and relevance of forensic applications.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
Forensic DNA phenotyping (FDP) has revolutionized criminal investigations by enabling the prediction of externally visible characteristics (EVCs) such as eye, hair, and skin color from DNA samples. The IrisPlex system marked a significant advancement by accurately predicting eye color using specific SNP markers. Subsequent developments, including HIrisPlex and HIrisPlex-S, have expanded capabilities to include hair and skin color predictions, respectively, enhancing the precision of forensic investigations. Future research aims to further improve predictive accuracy, expand characteristic analysis, and address ethical concerns, heralding a new era in forensic science.
