Sunday, February 22

The Genetics of Beauty

Although the findings are still not officially published, researchers have identified six genes they believe may have significant effects on facial features. Exactly how much each gene influences any particular feature wasn't revealed, but the tentative results lead to speculation as to how this information might be used. Some potential applications noted in the article on the GenomeWeb Daily News website include:

-use in forensics - for example, to create a sketch of a criminal no one has seen based entirely on DNA
-and obviously in a pre-natal context, to have a computer predict what your child will look like based on DNA (although I don't see the point - I mean, what if you find out it's going to be ugly, you're not all of the sudden going to have an abortion - or at least I hope not!)

Anyway, just some more interesting ways genetics may change your life.

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