Replies to post #8664 on DNAprint Genomics (DNAG)

[worktoplay]

frogger...First, the tests are intended as investigative tools, not evidentiary tools. Even at 70%, most investigators would consider that a valuable piece of information. Conviction would still require a CODIS type of match from suspect and crime scene DNA, thus, your scenario is not going to happen, but that does not in any way diminish the value of the test to law enforcement.

But more importantly, Dr. Frudakis said in the Popular Science article that within a year they could produce an accurate commmercial test for hair color. I would suggest that that statement is based on this text from the published application:

[0500] Although the present analysis does not explain 100% of the variability in human hair color, and indeed, one would not expect a two gene solution to explain all of the variability in human hair color because there are 4-5 genes involved in melanin synthesis for which mutations have been identified to impact human pigmentation, the results obtained for the OCA2 8 locus haplotype+TYR.sub.--3 genotype plot explained all but 5/42 of the individuals, and 22/24 haplotype pair classes. The results indicate that human hair color is largely explainable through consideration of the diploid OCA2 haplotype and TYR-3 genotype combination present in any Caucasian individual.

Looks to me like they believe it WILL be possible to offer a useful test.

Later,
W2P

[ifida]

frog.........

But your honor, the reason we need this persons dna is because his hair matches the criminal 70% and his eyes match 97% and his skin tone matches ?. Now we swab his mouth and we have proof positive or negative. These tools will be used to narrow the search, reduce the amount of suspects, lead the police to the perpetrator before he kills again, not convict him/her. Give dnap another year and I think you will find the accuracy level higher.

As far as catching criminals, I think dnap has already proved it has the ability to do so, based on the ancestry test alone. Now, put the three tests together and flip the coin.


[0845] This example provides the identification of a preferred combination of penetrant and latent haplotype alleles (also called genetic features herein) that are used in a complex classifier model to infer eye color. These results reveal that the identification of predictive markers for complex traits such as iris pigmentation is best accomplished in a manner that is respectful of intergenic complexity and that accurate classification models incorporating genetic features are best developed in a manner that is respectful of intragenic complexity. The combination of penetrant and latent haplotypes of this Example when used to infer eye color using the classification model disclosed in this Example, inferred eye shade for a group of 225 Caucasians with 99% accuracy for the inference of iris color shade, and 97% accuracy for the inference of actual eye colors.


Always a pleasure,
IFIDA