A review. The genomics and bioinformatics era has enabled the recent development of systems and methods for the derivation of human phenotype from the genotyping of crime stain DNA evidence. This is accomplished through an empirical process of inference, either directly through genotypes for the functionally relevant genetic positions (loci) or indirectly through an appreciation of the genetic heritage of the donor. Forensic scientists are accustomed to using DNA sequence polymorphisms as identifiers. On the basis of the frequency of the identifier, we can statistically1 link individuals with samples associated with criminal investigations. Microsatellites, such as the short tandem repeats (STRs) employed for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBIs) combined DNA index system (CODIS) have been most commonly used for this purpose because they are multiallelic. That is to say, they have many alleles (varieties per location, or locus) and so relatively few loci are necessary to produce sequence signatures. Microsatellites are not chosen from the human genome based on their human ancestry or phenotype information, since this type of information would render them more or less powerful as identification tools among different human subpopulations. Thus, they are relatively useless for inferring phenotype. If we find that a suspect or a database entry matches the STR profile, we can extract probative value from the profile, otherwise, we have traditionally employed nongenetic investigative processes designed to produce the suspects necessary to achieve this objective.