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                            Funding & Awards
 Quantitative and visual prediction of eye, hair and skin color from DNA
Award Information
Awardee
              TRUSTEES OF INDIANA UNIVERSITY
Award #
              15PNIJ-23-GG-04206-RESS
Funding Category
              Competitive Discretionary
Location
                    BLOOMINGTON, IN
Congressional District
              9
Status
              Open
Funding First Awarded
              2023
Total funding (to date)
              $980,527
Original Solicitation
              NIJ FY23 Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2023, $980,527)
Forensic DNA phenotyping is the ability to predict an individual’s physical appearance using genetic information obtained from biological material. Due to its intelligence-driven niche, it has the potential to significantly complement current DNA analyses practice within forensic laboratories worldwide. However, in order to increase its usage and potentially move toward the implementation and use of these tools in current or cold casework, it requires several developments that this proposal addresses. First, it is time to enhance and expand the HIrisPlex-S (HPS) tool for eye, hair, and skin color prediction which has become a staple in the phenotyping field. Pigment is a continuous trait and up till now, we have utilized a simpler categorical classification (i.e., blue eyes, pale skin, blond hair) to predict the pigmentation appearance of an individual. The first aim of this proposal is to develop quantitative prediction models that will complement the current HPS webtool available at https://hirisplex.erasmusmc.nl/ by systematically ranking all known associated pigmentation variants published in literature using a more globally represented dataset. Second, in order to produce realistic and genetically inferred visual predictions, as opposed to verbal descriptions of color, we shall utilize deep learning approaches to generate a database of images that can be used to relay the genetic prediction generated. By providing several image outputs, we remove the complications surrounding categorical definitions of color and interpretation bias that may be intrinsic to limited pigment descriptors. Third, due to the implementation of these visual predictions for eye, hair, and skin color, it will be important to include additional traits and features that can relay the result more effectively but also have a solid genetic foundation. We will include the genetic prediction of hair structure (straight v not straight) and eyebrow color (quantitative) to complement quantitative hair and eye color visual predictions, as well as freckling (presence/absence) to complement the quantitative skin color visual predictions. Finally, the enhanced tool termed HIrisPlex-QT and the expansion of quantitative eye, eyebrow, hair, and skin color with freckling and hair structure (6 traits in total) shall be made available online in combination with the established HPS webtool to further the field of predictive biometrics. During its development, we aim to cultivate relationships with practitioners and fellow research laboratories around the world to discuss implementation and usage to ensure this transition proceeds with caution and appropriate guidance on the potential societal implications that surround visual physical appearance predictions. CA/NCF

  
Date Created: September 26, 2023
    
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