Unrelated look-alikes identified and photographed by Quebec artist François Brunelle for decades hide genetic similarities unsuspected until now.
A study by a scholarly team from Barcelona based on 32 couples from the great gallery of Brunello has just demonstrated that the “ultrasosies” – those who are the most alike – share not only common genetic characteristics, but also lifestyles, although that they don’t know each other. This finding adds another layer of complexity to nature-nurture relationships, and could even lead to forensic applications.
François Brunelle began his quest for human copies in 1999. He exhibits his astonishing finds in galleries and museums, as well as on his personal website under the title JI am not a double! (I’m not a look-alike!). He has unearthed and immortalized around 250 pairs worldwide, and the quest continues.
The results of the Catalan comparative study have appeared in the scientific journal Cell Reports. Its conclusions are beginning to make the rounds of the world, and articles from the international press on the François Brunelle look-alike project are already filling filing cabinets and a corner of the digital cloud. “It’s not the first time that my project has aroused media interest, but this is a good jolt,” said the To have to the photograph.
Psychologists have already used his duplicate portraits for identity research, for example. But the genetic angle is brand new.
“At the beginning, I had doubts”
François Brunelle was approached by Professor Manuel Esteller, from the University of Barcelona, when he happened to be in Madrid himself. “At the beginning, I had doubts and I expressed a lot of reservations – in relation to confidentiality, for example, says the Montrealer. I dismissed the professor, but he came back the following year. We met again in Barcelona. He is very enthusiastic, very charismatic. »
The artist finally opened his prom card to the scientist. The scientific research took five years to complete. “It’s the project of my life,” he said. I also remained in contact with the models. This job gave me 500 new friends who helped me make the project. »
Thirty-two pairs agreed to participate in the geneticists’ investigation by providing DNA samples. Their black-and-white photo was scanned by three facial recognition software programs to compare 27 physical characteristics of their faces, ranging from the location of the eyebrows to the gap between the eyes, to the size and position of the lips by compared to other features of the face.
Half of the unrelated duos were selected for their particularly resembling traits, as are identical twins.
The data shows that these 16 “true” lookalikes share more genes than the other 16 deemed less similar. This evidence that people who look very similar without being related share genes had never been proven. In the jargon, these tracings demonstrate phenotypic resemblance (based on physical appearance) coupled with genotypic resemblance. As we are seven or eight billion humans on Earth, genetic combinations can be duplicated.
“These people really look alike because they share important parts of the genome or DNA sequence,” Dr.r Esteller in an interview at New York Times released this week. The Barcelona team declined the interview request of the To have to.
More than just genes
The researchers also found certain similarities in the lifestyle and behavior of the subjects who, however, did not know each other at all before being presented for the photo. The comparisons concern, for example, the practice of physical exercise or the consumption of certain products.
“These findings not only provide information about the genetics that determine our face, but could also have implications for establishing other human anthropometric properties and even personality characteristics,” summarizes the study’s presentation in Cell Reports. Professor Esteller believes, for example, that the findings will have future implications in forensic medicine and genetic diagnosis.
Can a trace of DNA found at the scene of a crime help one day reconstruct the face of a criminal? Could a simple photo of a patient point to genetic clues signaling the strong possibility of developing a disease? These kinds of possibilities obviously lead to deep and fundamental ethical questions.
Pioneering research also has its obvious shortcomings, starting with the limited number of subjects studied. The pair selection mode (on black and white photos) also introduces limits. The European ancestry of nearly all of the look-alikes restricts the spread of the findings worldwide.
An artistic quest
A filmmaker has just proposed to François Brunelle to shoot a documentary on his fabulous and rich project by going on a hunt for similar people, in China this time.
His quest for similars does not call on artificial intelligence, yet now capable of finding resemblances between two living or missing humans.
“My project is to bring people together, at the same time in front of a camera, and capture their interaction when they hold each other by the shoulders or kiss each other, says the doubles sensor. Women are also less bothered by this way of doing things. A look-alike is someone who is mistaken for someone else. These two people don’t have to be exactly the same,” he explains, finally launching into the summary of the play. Amphitryon of Plautus, who plays on the vacillation of identity with the slave Sosie as the central character…