| ■ 3D Face Scan Helps Detect Genetic Disorders | 2007.09.14 |
| 3D face scans can help identify children with rare genetic disorders, according to British researchers who developed software that compares a person's face with a catalogue of images of people with known genetic conditions, BBC News reported. There are more than 700 genetic conditions that can affect facial traits. However, some of these conditions are rare, and because facial differences can be extremely subtle, initial diagnosis are sometimes difficult. Professor Peter Hammond, of the University College London Institute for Child Health, collected 3D images of children with known genetic disorders. The software uses these images to produce the "average face" of a child with a genetic disorder, BBC News reported "When we have a child with an unknown condition, we take a 3D picture of their face and we have developed techniques that allow us to compare their face with these averages," Hammond said. Details about the technique, which has a 90 percent success rate, were presented at the BA Festival in York, BBC News reported. |