Assessment of the IrisPlex Markers in Order for Eye Color Prediction in Iran (Tehran) Population

Authors

  • Alireza Rafati PhD in Medical Biotechnology, Research Assistant, Department of Medical Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  • Hassan Zamanifar PhD in Molecular Genetics, Research Assistant, Department of Genetics, Rey Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran
  • Sayed Mostafa Hosseini PhD in Molecular Genetics, Associate Professor Chemical Injuries Research Center, Systems Biology and Poisonings Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37506/h9yas160

Keywords:

Eye color, SNP, EVCs, IrisPlex, forensic

Abstract

Aim Today usually the crime scene is evaluated by using externally visible characteristics (EVCs) in forensic centers. EVCs such as eye color is a physical trait determined by feature the genetic of the iris. Evaluation of the accuracy of human, iris color prediction based on informative single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) can provide a useful intelligence tool to identify the suspect.  In our current research, we analyzed a six informative SNP marker (IrisPlex) (rs12896399 rs16891982, rs1393350, rs12203592, rs12913832, rs1800407) prediction of human eye color in 106 individuals of Iranian population with different ethnicity. We hypothesized that IrisPlex marker evaluations could be a considerable tool in eye color prediction. Hence, we performed this assessment for the first time in Iran.

Methods Peripheral blood samples were collected from 106 unrelated donors with informed consent in ophthalmology clinic of Baqiyatallah hospital. We analyzed a six informative SNP (rs12896399 rs16891982, rs1393350, rs12203592, rs12913832, rs1800407) with single base extension (SBE) assay (SNaPshot). The multinomial regression prediction model was used for these informative SNPs, for this model we calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and the area under the receiver characteristic operating curves (AUC) to increase accuracy for eye color prediction.

Results By Statistical analysis of logistic regression, the AUC value of IrisPlex markers was evaluated to determine eye color. AUC value for Dark eyes and blue eyes was 0.99 ± 0.0004 and 0.949 ± 0.0100 respectively and for intermediate eye colors was 0.9505 ± 0.017.

Conclusion We conclude that accuracy of IrisPlex predictive SNPs was acceptable in our study.  However, the mere IrisPlex markers are not enough and some additional markers should be evaluably to increase the accuracy of eye color prediction.

Author Biographies

  • Alireza Rafati, PhD in Medical Biotechnology, Research Assistant, Department of Medical Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

      PhD in Medical Biotechnology, Research Assistant ,Department of Medical Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran  .  PhD in Medical Biotechnology, Research Assistant ,Department of Medical Genetics, Sirjan School of Medical Sciences, Sirjan, Iran

  • Hassan Zamanifar, PhD in Molecular Genetics, Research Assistant, Department of Genetics, Rey Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran

    PhD in Molecular Genetics, Research Assistant ,Department of Genetics, Rey Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran

  • Sayed Mostafa Hosseini, PhD in Molecular Genetics, Associate Professor Chemical Injuries Research Center, Systems Biology and Poisonings Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    PhD in Molecular Genetics, Associate Professor Chemical Injuries Research Center, Systems Biology and Poisonings Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

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Published

2026-01-29

How to Cite

Assessment of the IrisPlex Markers in Order for Eye Color Prediction in Iran (Tehran) Population. (2026). Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, 20(1), 52-60. https://doi.org/10.37506/h9yas160