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A new strategy for capturing the 3D shape of the human face draws on data from sibling pairs and leads to identification of novel links between facial shape traits and specific locations within the human genome. Hanne Hoskens of the Department of Human Genetics at Katholieke Universiteit in Leuven, Belgium, and colleagues present these findings in the open-access journal
PLOS Genetics.
The ability to capture the 3D shape of the human face and how it varies between individuals with different genetics can inform a variety of applications, including understanding human evolution, planning for surgery, and forensic sciences. However, existing tools for linking genetics to physical traits require input of simple measurements, such as distance between the eyes, that do not adequately capture the complexities of facial shape.
New research debunks the belief that you can assess intelligence based on facial features.
Researchers have identified more than 70 genes that affect variation in both brain and facial structure. The genes don’t influence cognitive ability, however.
Although developmental biologists are used to thinking about the developing face as a receptacle for the embryonic brain morphing and stretching as the growing brain pushes outward it turns out that the face is an active participant in biological cross-talk during development that affects the three-dimensional features of both structures.
“We were astonished to find 76 genetic regions that affect both face and brain shape in the human population,” says Joanna Wysocka, professor of chemical and systems biology and of developmental biology at Stanford University.
Genetics of human face begin to reveal underlying profile
Using 3-D facial images with over 7,000 data points, researchers have identified changes in the DNA sequence of European individuals that contribute to variation in facial features. These findings help us better understand human variation and facial birth defects.
Image: Julie White, Penn State
Genetics of human face begin to reveal underlying profile
A ndrea Elyse Messer
December 07, 2020
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. The genetics behind the shape of the human face are difficult to decipher, but now an international team of researchers has connected specific genetic signals with specific areas of the face. They not only can see the signals of normal facial features in the genome, but also hope their work can shed light on craniofacial malformations such as cleft lip and palate.
New research connects specific genetic signals with specific areas of the human face.
The researchers can see the signals of normal facial features in the genome, and also hope their work can shed light on craniofacial malformations such as cleft lip and palate.
“The face tells the outside world about your identity, who you are related to, where your ancestors come from, and even your health,” says Julie White, graduate student in anthropology at Penn State. “But we only know a fraction of how faces are formed. The facial structure comes together in early development, and if it doesn’t go right, you can get a cleft palate or other problem, but we don’t fully know what controls those processes.”