The new technology allows them to develop a predicted snapshot image of someone’s physical appearance using only their genetic material.

DNA phenotyping is the prediction of physical appearance using only genetic information collected in a DNA sample. It can be used to generate leads in cases where there are no suspects or database hits, to narrow suspect lists, and to help solve human remains cases.

DNA carries the genetic instruction set for an individual’s physical characteristics. According to the Virginia based Parabon-Nanolabs, by determining how genetic information translates into physical appearance, it is possible to “reverse-engineer” DNA into a physical profile.

Over the past four years, using deep data mining and advanced machine learning algorithms in a specialized bioinformatics pipeline, Parabon — with funding support from the US Department of Defense — developed the Snapshot Forensic DNA Phenotyping System, which predicts genetic ancestry, eye color, hair color, skin color, freckling, and face shape in individuals from any ethnic background.

Because some traits are partially determined by environmental factors and not DNA alone, Snapshot trait predictions are presented with a corresponding measure of confidence, which reflects the degree to which such factors influence each particular trait.