Effectiveness asessment of a method for ancestry estimation in Brazilian population: craniofacial digital analysis in CBCTs

• Grant number: 22/15831-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2023
• End date: March 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Legal Medicine and Deontology
• Principal Investigator: Monica da Costa Serra
• Grantee: Monica da Costa Serra
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOAr). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Clemente Maia da Silva Fernandes
• Associated research grant(s): 24/09835-2 - Forensic Anthropology, New Technologies, and Artificial Intelligence: An Ibero-Brazilian Collaboration, AP.R SPRINT

Abstract

Ancestry estimation is related to the geographic origin of the individual, and constitutes one of the most challenging aspects of the biological profile. It is of great importance in forensic examinations, being performed through the analysis of morphological characteristics and skeletal measurements, which contribute to the compatibility with established ancestral groups. Current studies establish the ancestral groups in European, African and Asian. It is usually done by analyzing skull structures. Hefner (2009) developed a study in which he considered the morphological analysis (qualitative or non-metric) of 11 craniofacial structures for the differentiation of ancestry; His method has been tested in different populations. The use of computed tomography images has enabled the development of research with samples of living individuals, providing current population data - unlike what happens with studies carried out with collections of skeletons. So far, there are no published studies on ancestry estimation in the Brazilian population using current data, from living individuals and imaging exams. There are also no works developed analyzing all 11 craniofacial structures proposed by Hefner (2009). The general objective of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of a method for estimating ancestry in a Brazilian population, through digital craniofacial analysis in cone beam computed tomography scans. This proposal corresponds to an unprecedented study, to be developed using new technologies, using 3D images obtained from CBCT scans of live Brazilian individuals. Its findings may contribute to the creation of a database to help estimate ancestry, helping Justice and society. (AU)