title: Molecular sex identification of dry human teeth specimens from Sokoto, Northwestern Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The advent of molecular techniques has revolutionized the ability of scientists to estimate the sex of individuals. Forensic odontology plays an important role in establishing the sex of victims with bodies mutilated beyond recognition due to major disaster. The genetic difference between males and females is defined by the presence or absence of the Y-chromosome. The use of alphoid-repeat primers in sex estimation was first applied on dried blood. Generally, the X, Y alphoid repeats blind test attest to the accuracy of genetic testing, and also point the potential for occasional error in morphometric sexing.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate genetic sex of dry human teeth specimens from Sokoto, Northwestern Nigeria, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  
  
  METHODS
  A single-blind study of DNA analysis for sex estimation of nine dry human teeth specimens from Sokoto, Northwestern Nigeria, through PCR, using alphoid repeats primers, was undertaken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The genetic sex of each group of the teeth samples were accurately (100%) identified. For each group of teeth, PCR Sensitivity = 100%, Specificity = 0%, Predictive value of positive test = 100%, Predictive value of negative test = 0%, False positive rate = 0%, False negative rate = 0%, Efficiency of test = 100%. Fisher's exact probability test P = 1. Z-test: z- and P values were invalid.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has demonstrated the successful use of alphoid-repeat primers in genetic sex identification of human dry teeth samples from Sokoto, Northwestern Nigeria. This is the first known study estimating the sex of human dry teeth specimens by means of PCR in Nigeria. There is need for further studies in Nigeria to complement the findings of this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zagga
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
authors.forename: H Oon
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Molecular Genetics, Division of Human Genetics and Genome Research, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Sm
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Aa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tadros
keywords: Nigeria; Sokoto; sexing; teeth