Predicting Phenotype From Genotype: Normal Pigmentation

• NCJ Number: 230711
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 55 Issue: 2 Dated: March 2010 Pages: 315-322
• Author(s): Robert K. Valenzuela, M.S.; Miquia S. Henderson, B.S.; Monica H. Walsh, B.S.; Nanibaa A. Garrison, Ph.D.; Jessica T. Kelch, B.S.; Orit Cohen-Barak, Ph.D.; Drew T. Erickson, Ph.D.; F. John Meaney, Ph.D.; J. Bruce Walsh, Ph.D.; Keith C. Cheng, M.D., Ph.D.; Shosuke Ito, Ph.D.; Kazumasa Wakamatsu, Ph.D.; Tony Frudakis, Ph.D.; Matthew Thomas, Ph.D.; Murray H. Brilliant, Ph.D.
• Date Published: March 2010
• Length: 8 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2002-IJ-CX-K010
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Award: Gene Polymorphism and Human Pigmentation

Annotation

This study determined 75 SNPs in 24 genes (previously implicated in human or animal pigmentation studies) for the analysis of single- and multi-locus associations with hair, skin, and eye color in 789 individuals of various ethnic backgrounds.

Abstract

Genetic information in forensic studies is largely limited to CODIS data and the ability to match samples and assign them to an individual. However, there are circumstances, in which a given DNA sample does not match anyone in the CODIS database, and no other information about the donor is available. Using multiple linear regression modeling, five SNPs in five genes were found to account for large proportions of pigmentation variation in hair, skin, and eyes in our across-population analyses. Thus, these models may be of predictive value to determine an individual's pigmentation type from a forensic sample, independent of ethnic origin. Tables, figures, and references (Published Abstract)