1. A method of identifying a subject by biometric analysis of the iris of an eye, the method comprising the steps of: (1) acquiring an image of an iris of the subject; (2) radially segmenting the iris image into a plurality of radial segments; (3) for each radial segment, determining data for a data set for a single predetermined one dimensional feature within said segment relative to a reference value of said feature within said image; and (4) constructing a template for said subject comprising said data for each of said radial segments; and wherein: at least steps 2-4 are performed using a programmed computing device; and said feature is peaks of color intensity within the iris; and said data comprises magnitudes of said peaks and their relative locations along a direction radially outward from a center of a pupil in the image of the iris of the subject.