2-D Facial reconstruction (when skull is not available) using Mitochondrial DNA (MTDNA) phylogeny tree and image morphing techniques: A preliminary study

Ancestorship of a person can be determined using mitochondriol DNA (maternal lineage) and/or Y chromosome DNA (paternal lineage). A phylogeny tree can be drawn using Neighbour-joining and/or Maximum Parsimony methods from the mitochondrial DNA and Y chromosome DNA. A known “average face” for each group of ancestor is determined. The mitochondrial DNA of an unknown person is mapped onto the phylogeny tree. The face of the unknown person is reconstructed using “Mendelian Morphing” technique by combining the nearest average faces for each group ancestors on the phylogeny tree. The authors feel this technique can be used for forensic and archeological facial reconstruction/approximation when the skull of skeletal remains is not available. The approximated face is about 60.70% similar (subjeclive evaluation) to the expcted face.