DNA2FACE: An approach to correlating 3D facial structure and DNA

Abstract

In this paper we introduce the concept of correlating genetic variations in an individual's specific genetic code (DNA) and facial morphology. This is the first step in the research effort to estimate facial appearance from DNA samples, which is gaining momentum within intelligence, law enforcement and national security communities. The dataset for the study consisting of genetic data and 3D facial scans (phenotype) data was obtained through the FaceBase Consortium. The proposed approach has three main steps: phenotype feature extraction from 3D face images, genotype feature extraction from a DNA sample, and genome-wide association analysis to determine genetic variations that contribute to facial structure and appearance. Results indicate that there exist significant correlations between genetic information and facial structure. We have identified 30 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), i.e. genetic variations, that significantly contribute to facial structure and appearance. We conclude with a preliminary attempt at facial reconstruction from the genetic data and emphasize on the complexity of the problem and the challenges encountered.