Scientists have developed a forensic test that can predict both the hair and eye color of a possible suspect using DNA left at a crime scene.
The team that developed the test says it could provide valuable leads in cases where perpetrators cannot be identified through DNA profiling. The Hirisplex system could allow investigators to narrow down a large group of possible suspects.
Outwords traits such as hair or eye color from DNA information is an emerging field in forensics. An important current approach, known as genetic profiling, involves comparing crime scene DNA with that from a suspect or with a profile stored in a database. But this relies on the person either being among a pool of suspects identified by the police or having their profile in a DNA database.
Tools such as Hirisplex could be useful in those cases where the perpetrator is completely unknown to the authorities.
