Page 31 - Veritas - 02.03.22

It was Parabon NanoLabs that developed a software that could give

information about the DNA left in the crime scene. Parabon Snapshot is

a DNA phenotyping tool or more of a software that creates a face imag-

ing sketch of a person with the help of DNA samples helping the inves-

tigator to know what a suspect looks like. The snapshot system hardly

needs a nanogram of DNA, and after the collection runs it through the

snapshot algorithm, it, in turn, would produce the prediction of a per-

son.

Again, you might wonder how a snapshot system works.

Everything lies in the hands of the SNP information that is “Single

Nucleotide Polymorphism”. In short, we can call it snips.

What are snips exactly?

The human genome contains approximately 3 million base pairs and a

variation in the single base pair is called snips. Sometimes when a

genome is copied to make new cells, a single base pair is left out or

added or even substituted. This leads to snips and this makes the

genetic variation. This is why we all look different.

Isn’t this interesting! Just imagine how a miniature substance makes

a whole lot of difference.

The snapshot interprets the SNP information from a DNA sample of

an individual to identify what a suspect looks like, and this will be

easier for the investigator to find the suspect.

It has been said snapshots are totally error-free and highly accurate, al-

though some of the scientists questioned the accuracy and doubted if

the system could recreate the face image sketch. More importantly, the

study and analysis of an unknown person through this snapshot sys-

tem requires a comparison, and if it is not possible, then the only way

is to search and find the DNA database of the suspected person.

The system is more likely dependent on a pair of reference samples.

It must be kept in mind that the snapshot is way too expensive, and

therefore it cannot be used for every investigation.

There are many other technologies coming up, and this latest

development would definitely be a great benefit.