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Prediction of Eye and Skin Color in Diverse Populations Using Seven SNPs

NCJ Number
236678
Journal
Forensic Science International: Genetics Volume: 5 Issue: 5 Dated: November 2011 Pages: 472-478
Author(s)
Olga Spichenok; Zoran M. Budimlija; Adele A. Mitchell; Andreas Jenny; Lejla Kovacevic; Damir Marjanovic; Theresa Caragine; Mechthild Prinz; Elisa Wurmbach
Date Published
November 2011
Length
7 pages
Annotation
In this study, seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), located in and nearby genes known for their important role in pigmentation, were validated on 554 samples, donated from non-related individuals of various populations.
Abstract
An essential component in identifying human remains is the documentation of the decedent's visible characteristics, such as eye, hair and skin color. However, if a decedent is decomposed or only skeletal remains are found, this critical, visibly identifying information is lost. It would be beneficial to use genetic information to reveal these visible characteristics. Six SNPs were used in predicting the eye color of an individual, and all seven were used to describe the skin coloration. The outcome revealed that these markers can be applied to all populations with very low error rates. However, the call-rate to determine the skin coloration varied between populations, demonstrating its complexity. Overall, these results prove the importance of these seven SNPs for potential forensic tests. (Published Abstract)