New research performed by the University of Pittsburgh, Penn State University, Stanford University and Belgium’s KU Leven university has revealed 15 genes that contribute to the development of facial features.
The study, published in Nature Genetics, may mean advancements in how sketch artists recreate images using DNA taken from crime scenes or how historians recreate facial features using ancient DNA.
The discovery may also yield improvements in how facial surgical procedures are performed on individuals who have experienced disfigurement or injury.
Previous facial DNA studies identified genes related to the development of facial features, but these studies approached the investigation from the outside in; researchers looked at facets of the face such as the width of the nose or the spacing between the eyes and then worked backward to find the genes that controlled the development of these specific features.
While this approach allowed researchers to identify some of the genes that control the development of facial features, because only a few features were analyzed, the findings of the previous studies were limited.
In the 2018 project, study authors took a different approach; they did not concentrate on specific traits.
The researchers used a series of 3D facial images from participants and their corresponding DNA profiles.
The researchers took each 3D image and divided it into smaller areas. Working within those smaller sections, they looked through the participants’ DNA to make a match.
The researchers found 15 locations in the genes of participants that corresponded to areas of the face. They also found a location in the genetic code that regulates how and when genes are expressed.
Of the 15 identified genes, seven were related to the nose and its appearance. This discovery was very important because the nose is made of soft tissue and cartilage. This makes reconstruction difficult, especially if the tissue is missing.
Nasal-reshaping procedures are very popular in the United States and around the world. According to Statista, an online statistical resource, the rhinoplasty procedure was one of the top cosmetic procedures in 2016, with 786,852 procedures performed worldwide that year.
If cosmetic surgeons can see how an individual’s DNA dictates appearance, it could allow them to recreate the patient’s nose to closely resemble their natural appearance.
Although the application of this research is a long way into the future, the findings hold an intriguing premise to Dr. Christy Walker.
Walker is a dual-board-certified cosmetic surgeon and gynecologist practicing in Plano, Texas.
“Plastic surgery is about improving the appearance and aesthetics of the body and the face, and the ability to potentially recreate facial areas with the help of DNA is exciting,” Walker said.
The in-depth DNA research could also benefit other procedures such as the face-lift procedure, earlobe repair, eyebrow-lift and neck-lift.
Some aesthetic improvements do not require surgery, however.
Advances in technology and technique have changed how many procedures are being performed, such as the face-lift.
“What was done using major surgery five years ago can now be accomplished through tiny incisions or no incisions at all. This equates to no pain, minimal risk of complications and significantly reduced recovery time,” Walker said.
Minimally invasive and noninvasive procedures also include facial treatments such as Botox and dermal filler injections, non-invasive skin tightening and skin-resurfacing procedures such as microdermabrasion or chemical peels.
Source:
Statista. Top 10 surgical cosmetic procedures worldwide in 2016.
KU Leuven. “Fifteen new genes identified that shape our face.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 19 February 2018.
