📖 Glossary
All definitions of terms used on Look Like Me — AI, genetics, biometrics, GDPR. 39 entries.
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Allele →
A variant of a given gene, inherited from one parent or the other.
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ArcFace →
State-of-the-art deep learning model for generating facial embeddings.
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Autosomal →
Located on a non-sex chromosome (autosome), among the 22 human pairs.
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Biometrics →
Measurement and analysis of unique biological characteristics of an individual (face, fingerprint, iris).
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CNN (Convolutional Neural Network) →
A neural network architecture specialised in image analysis.
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Computer vision →
The AI field that teaches machines to interpret images and videos.
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Confidence threshold →
Minimum score above which an AI system considers its prediction reliable.
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Cosine similarity →
Mathematical metric measuring the angle between two vectors, used to compare embeddings.
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Data augmentation →
AI training technique that generates image variants to enrich the dataset.
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Deep learning →
Branch of AI based on multi-layer artificial neural networks.
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Dominant gene →
Allele that expresses visually even when transmitted by only one of the two parents.
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Epigenetics →
Study of heritable modifications that influence gene expression without altering the sequence.
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Epistasis →
Interaction between multiple genes: one gene modifies another's expression.
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Expressivity →
The intensity or variability with which a genetic trait manifests.
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FaceNet →
A 2015 Google model that revolutionised facial recognition via embeddings.
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Facial alignment →
A normalisation step that recrops and straightens a face before AI analysis.
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Facial embedding →
Numerical representation of a face as a vector, computed by a neural network.
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False positive →
An incorrect detection: the AI says "yes" when the right answer was "no".
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Genetic recombination →
Shuffling of parental alleles during gamete formation (meiosis).
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Genotype →
Set of inherited genes of an individual, independent of their visible expression.
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GWAS →
Genome-Wide Association Study: statistical hunt for genes linked to a trait.
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Heritability →
Proportion of variation of a trait in a population that is explained by genes (vs environment).
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Mendelian →
Following the inheritance laws described by Gregor Mendel in the 19th century.
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Mitochondrial DNA →
Small circular DNA in mitochondria, inherited only from the mother.
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Monogenic →
A trait controlled by a single gene, often with a clear inheritance pattern.
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MTCNN →
Multi-task face detector used as preprocessing before facial recognition.
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Neural network →
A brain-inspired computational model behind all modern AI systems.
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Penetrance →
Probability that an allele responsible for a trait actually expresses it.
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Phenotype →
Set of observable characteristics of an individual, resulting from gene-environment interaction.
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Phenotypic trait →
An observable feature of an individual (height, eye colour, face shape).
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Pleiotropy →
The ability of a single gene to influence several different traits.
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Polygenic →
A genetic trait controlled by multiple genes acting together.
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Recessive gene →
Allele that expresses visually only if both parents transmit it.
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Similarity score →
Quantitative measure of resemblance between two faces, usually between 0 and 100%.
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Skipped generation (resemblance) →
Phenomenon where a visible trait skips a generation, due to recessive genes.
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Transfer learning →
Re-using a pre-trained AI model for a new, similar task.
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Twin study →
Method comparing identical and fraternal twins to measure a trait's genetic share.
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X-linked inheritance →
Inheritance of a gene carried on the X sex chromosome.
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YOLO (detector) →
Real-time object detection model, used upstream of face recognition.