title: Sex determination from dentin and pulp in a medicolegal context.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The techniques used to determine the sex of skeletons are limited. The authors conducted a study to analyze the accuracy of sex identification from dentin and pulp via DNA isolation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors extracted DNA from the dentin and pulp of 14 teeth by using a silica-based methodology. They used the amelogenin gene to determine the sex via polymerase chain reaction. β-actin, a housekeeping gene, was used as a control gene. The authors checked the results in agarose gel and semiquantified them by using gel analysis software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The DNA yield depended on the type of tooth and was lowest in the smallest teeth (that is, incisors). In all cases, the authors were able to identify the sex, as well as the control gene, which suggests the potential to identify other genes, such as short tandem repeats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is possible to correctly identify a person's sex from dentin and pulp; in instances in which one dental material is not available, the other material can be used with the same efficiency. Practical Implications. The results of this study are applicable to forensic dentistry, particularly in situations in which there is commingling of remains and fragmentary remains, and there may be only one tooth with which to identify a person's sex.
authors.affiliation: Dr. C. Zapico is a postdoctoral fellow, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, MRC112, Department of Anthropology, 10th and Constitution Ave., N.W., P.O. Box 37012, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012, saiczapico@gmail.com or Casado-ZapicoS@si.edu.
authors.forename: Sara C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Zapico
authors.forename: Douglas H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Ubelaker
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D053523:Amelogenin / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000737:chemistry*; D003804:Dentin / Q000737:chemistry*; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008963:Molar / Q000737:chemistry; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012732:Sex Determination Analysis / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D053523:Amelogenin; D004247:DNA
keywords: Basic sciences; DNA; dental pulp; dentin; disasters; forensic dentistry; gene expression; genetics; incisor; molar