Phenotyping is using DNA analysis to produce a computer generated image of a person, but it's a highly controversial practice. Parabon Nano Labs has developed sophisticated software capable of unlocking information contained in DNA left at a crime scene. As the program sifts through billions of pieces of genetic information, it slowly begins to build a suspect's appearance. Snapshot is highly accurate and has been successfully evaluated by major metropolitan police departments and federal agencies. But the technology that they use, the algorithms that they use are closed source. They're not peer reviewed. Scientists can't look at the data to determine how accurate they are. It's definitely a last resort.
Earlier this month, police in Edmonton, Canada, released a sketch of a suspect. The issue is, no one knows what the suspect looks like.
This episode was produced by Siona Peterous, edited by Matt Collette, engineered by Paul Robert Mounsey, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram.
Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained
Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices