[Homologous amelogenin gene test of archaeological samples].
OBJECTIVE
Based on the sequence differences of Amelogenin homologous gene in the X and Y chromosomes, a pair of specific primers was designed to identify the sex of archaeological samples.


METHODS
Ancient DNA fragments were extracted from the bones and teeth of sacrificial slaves with an improved method that combines phenol-chloroform extraction, silicon dioxide adsorption with ultrafiltration concentration. The polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) was used to detect PCR products.


RESULTS
Seven in sixteen samples from eight graves showed positive results and the targeted segments were visible: a male with two bands of 106bp (Amel-X) and 112 bp (Amel-Y), while a female with only one band of 106 bp (Amel-X). Ancient DNA analyzing results from tooth samples are more marked than that from bones.


CONCLUSIONS
The improved extraction method is more effective for ancient DNA extraction, which reduced the PCR inhibitors and lowered experimental costs. The sex determination technology based on Amelogenin homologous gene is an important and feasible method in the molecular archaeological research.
Zhang
Hu-Qin
HQ
The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China. huqzhang@mail.xjtu.edu.cn
Yang
Zhou-Qi
ZQ
Liu
Fang-E
FE
Zhang
Jin
J
Zhao
Wen-Ming
WM
D000483:Alleles; D053523:Amelogenin / Q000235:genetics*; D001106:Archaeology; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D041321:Chromosomes, Human, X; D041322:Chromosomes, Human, Y; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017931:DNA Primers; D003746:Dental Enamel Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012732:Sex Determination Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D014070:Tooth / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
D053523:Amelogenin; D017931:DNA Primers; D003746:Dental Enamel Proteins; D004247:DNA