DNA left at a crime scene could be used in the future to build up a picture of an offender's face, which was re?vealed tonight.

A first step towards genetic mugshots has been taken by researchers in the US who link specific DNA markers with face shapes. To identify the genes, they focused on known mutations (突变)that cause changes of the face and head. Normal versions of these genes were found to influence individual features. For in?stance, one gene affected the lips, another the shape and configuration of bones around the eyes, and a third the appearance of the mid-face and skull. In total, 20 genes had "significant effects" on facial appearance.

Lead scientist Professor Mark Shriver, from the Penn?sylvania State University? said, "We use DNA to match to an individual or identify an individual, but we can get so much more from DNA. Currently we can't go from DNA to a face, or from a face to DNA, but it should be possible." The implications are far-reaching, raising the possibility of creating a data bank of facial types based on genetic markers. DNA from a crime scene could then be used to produce a rough image of the face of an offender or vic?tim. Such genetic mugshots may be more reliable than computer-generated "E-fits" based on witnesses' memo?ry. Other uses of the technique might include proving the identities of fathers in paternity cases, or visualizing our remote ancestors from fossil DNA.

The scientists wrote in the online journal Public Li?brary of Science Genetics, " Such predictive modelling could be forensically useful. For example, DNA left at crime scenes could be tested and faces could be predicted in order to help to narrow the pool of potential suspects. Further, our methods could be used to predict the facial features of descendants, deceased ancestors, and even extinct human species. In addition, these methods could prove to be useful diagnostic tools. " The team devel?oped a model which first established a range of physical face shapes from people of mixed West African and Eu?ropean ancestry from the US, Brazil and Cape Verde. Measurements were taken of thousands of point coordi?nates on grids placed over 3-D images of the faces.


Statistical methods were then used to determine the relationship between facial differences and the effects of genders, ethnic ancestry and individual gene variants.

5.    The underlined word "mugshots" in the second paragraph most probably means "

A,  different faces B. characteristics

C.  pictures of faces     D. genders

6.    What can be inferred from the passage?

A.    DNA has been used to build up a picture of an offender's face.

B.    It may be much easier to catch criminals with the help of DNA.

C.    In all, 20 genes had"significant effects"on facial appearance.

D.    One gene can affect more than one part of your face.

7.    According  to  Professor  Mark  Shriver ,   we know

A.    they can merely match to an individual or identi?fy an individual

B.    there is a possibility of going from DNA to a face

C.    DNA could be used to produce a rough image of an offender's face

D.    this technology is more reliable than computer-gen?erated "E-fits"

8.    What is the most possible title of the passage?

A.    Creating a data bank of DNA

B.    Recognizing the DNA of criminals

C.    Predicting the locations of offences using DNA

D.    Building up an image of an offender's face from DNA

Faces, like fingerprints, are unique. Did you ever wonder how it is possible for us to recognize people?

9 Yet a very young child―or even an animal, such as a pigeon, can learn to recognize faces. We all take this for granted.

10 When we talk about someone's personality, we mean the ways in which he or she acts, speaks, thinks and feels that make that individual different from others.

Like the human face, human personality is very complex. But describing someone's personality in words is somewhat easier than describing his face. 11 But if you were asked to describe a "nice person" you might begin to think about someone who was kind, consider ate friendly, warm, and so forth.

There are many words to describe how a person thinks, feels and acts. Gordon Airport, an American psychologist, found nearly 18,000 English words characterizing differences in people's behaviour. 12 Book worms ,conservatives, military types—people are de?scribed with such terms.

People have always tried to "type" each other. Actors in early Greek drama wore masks to show the audi?ence whether they played the villain's or the hero's role. In fact, the words "person" and "personality" come from the Latin persona, meaning "mask". Today? most televi?sion and movie actors do not wear masks. 13

A.    If you were asked to describe what a " nice face" looked like, you probably would have a difficult time do?ing so.

B.    But we can easily tell the "good guys" from the "bad guys" because the two types differ in appearance as well as in actions.

C.    We also tell people apart by how they behave.

D.    People have difficulty in describing the features of fingerprints.

E.    And many of us use this information as a basis for describing, or typing one's personality.

F.    Experts say that actors differ in their behavioral and physical characteristics in acting.

G.    Even a skilled writer probably could not describe all the feature? that make one face different from another.

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