A multiple predictive tool approach for phenotypic and biogeographical ancestry inferences

Phenotypic and biogeographical ancestry predictions for 128 Canadians with various self-reported ancestries, generated using the ForenSeq™ DNA Signature Prep kit/Primer Mix B and VEROGEN’s Universal Analysis Software (UAS) v1.3, were compared to predictions derived from the ERASMUS v2.0, Snipper Application v2.5, Forensic Reference/Resource on Genetics knowledge base [FROG-kb] ©2019 and STRUCTURE v2.3.4, web tools. Performance metrics were calculated for all tools tested. The UAS v1.3 eye color predictions were determined to be accurate (91.8% for brown, 82.4% for blue) with no need to complement results with any other predictive tools. For hair color predictions, the UAS v1.3 was accurate for black (93.5%), for red (80.0%) but limited for brown (50.0%) and for blond (31.3%) using the Highest Probability Approach. The ERASMUS web tool could complement the UAS results using a revised Prediction Guide Approach. Non-admixed individuals with ancestries from Africa, East Asia or Europe were predicted with 79.7% accuracy using the UAS v1.3. Admixed individuals and those with ancestries from India, the Middle East and South America were better classified using Snipper, FROG-kb and STRUCTURE. Complementing UAS v1.3 predictions with those obtained from open access web tools thus represents a way to maximize information derivable from unknown samples.