WHAT IS DNA PHENOTYPING?

Parabon NanoLabs in Virginia has been doing DNA phenotyping for the past four years. Marketed as a way for police agencies to solve cases of unidentified human remains, the process uses DNA to predict genetic ancestry, eye, hair and skin colour, freckling and face shape.

The company says they “reverse-engineer” DNA into a physical profile. The process reads tens of thousands of genetic variants or genotypes from DNA to predict what an unidentified person looks like. The technology was used by the Vancouver Police Department last year with DNA seized from the West End apartment where Edgar (Iggy) Leonardo, 36, was killed 15 years ago, hoping it will generate some clues about a person of interest they believe had been with the victim.