Abstract
Sex identification from skeletal material is of vital importance in order to reconstruct
the demographic variables of an individual in forensic genetics and ancient DNA (aDNA)
analysis. When the use of conventional methods of sex identification are impossible,
molecular analysis of the X and Y chromosomes provides an expedient solution. Two
novel systems of molecular sex identification suitable for skeletal material using
the amelogenin gene are described, beginning in intron 2–3, spanning exon 3 and ending
in intron 3–4. This area was optimal for sexing, as it includes 14 sex-specific polymorphic
regions in addition to an indel (insertion or deletion of nucleotides). Once optimised
and working with 100% efficiency on the controls, these procedures were applied to
a collection of miscellaneous archaeological skeletons (ex situ) sourced from the Raymond Dart Collection of Human Skeletons (Dart Collection). This
collection was used to optimise these techniques for skeletal remains derived from
an archaeological context. These methods produced 46.66% sex results for the ex situ sample, which is within the normal range for aDNA studies. These new techniques are
optimal for sex identification, with both the inherent control of isolating many sex-specific
features and combined with the use of sensitive micro-fluidic electrophoresis.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 15, 2008
Accepted:
October 15,
2008
Received in revised form:
September 22,
2008
Received:
July 3,
2008
Identification
Copyright
© 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
