title: Accuracy Rates of Sex Estimation by Forensic Anthropologists through Comparison with DNA Typing Results in Forensic Casework.
abstract: A common task in forensic anthropology involves the estimation of the biological sex of a decedent by exploiting the sexual dimorphism between males and females. Estimation methods are often based on analysis of skeletal collections of known sex and most include a research-based accuracy rate. However, the accuracy rates of sex estimation methods in actual forensic casework have rarely been studied. This article uses sex determinations based on DNA results from 360 forensic cases to develop accuracy rates for sex estimations conducted by forensic anthropologists. The overall rate of correct sex estimation from these cases is 94.7% with increasing accuracy rates as more skeletal material is available for analysis and as the education level and certification of the examiner increases. Nine of 19 incorrect assessments resulted from cases in which one skeletal element was available, suggesting that the use of an "undetermined" result may be more appropriate for these cases.
authors.affiliation: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Laboratory Division, Forensic Anthropology Program, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA, 22135. richard.m.thomas@ic.fbi.gov.
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Research Unit, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Laboratory Division, Visiting Scientist Program, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA, 22135.
authors.forename: Connie L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Parks
authors.affiliation: Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Research Unit, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Laboratory Division, Visiting Scientist Program, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA, 22135.
authors.forename: Adam H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Richard
mesh_terms: D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D005260:Female; D018732:Forensic Anthropology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012732:Sex Determination Analysis; D054881:Sex Determination by Skeleton
keywords: biological profile; forensic anthropology; forensic science; osteometrics; sex estimation; skeletal morphology