Using DNA to paint a face

Research seeks to unlock the identity secrets of our genes

Are there specific genes for a big nose, high cheekbones or full lips? What — or who’s — to blame for a widow’s peak or wobbly jowl?

It’s a question some of us might ask while grimacing at that appalling passport photo. One researcher at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is looking to answer that by decoding the DNA that writes the recipe for the human face.

The research could also have important ramifications for solving crimes and unlocking the secrets of history.