The DNA photofit: Amazing breakthrough means police can tell suspect's colour, height and even age – from a tiny speck …

Police can build physical profile of suspect, even if there are no witnesses Until now, genetic samples could only be matched to criminals on record Innocent suspects can be eliminated using new technology, says expert Each test costs 700, and it takes up to ten days to analyse the material

By Martin Beckfor Thed for The Mail on Sunday

Published: 17:47 EST, 17 January 2015 | Updated: 19:34 EST, 17 January 2015

Police are now able to build up a detailed picture of a suspect from the smallest speck of blood left at a crime scene thanks to an extraordinary DNA breakthrough.

New advances in the technology mean detectives will know if an offender is black or white, the colour of their hair and eyes, their height and age even if there are no witnesses to the crime.

Until now, investigators have only been able to match genetic material to records of criminals already in the national database, but the innovation will produce a 'DNA photofit' describing the offender.

Dr Denise Syndercombe-Court, a forensic genetics expert at King's College London, said: 'The new technologies raise the possibility that we won't need an actual eyewitness to a crime in order to produce a picture of how the suspect looks.

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Breakthrough: New adavances meandetectives will know if an offender is black or white, the colour of their hair and eyes, their height and age

Progress:Until now, investigators have only been able to match genetic material to records of criminals already in the national database

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The DNA photofit: Amazing breakthrough means police can tell suspect's colour, height and even age - from a tiny speck ...