TY - JOUR
T1 - Use of a Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay in the Sex Typing of DNA Extracted from Archaeological Bone
AU - Palmirotta, Raffaele
AU - Verginelli, Fabio
AU - Di Tota, Gabriella
AU - Battista, Pasquale
AU - Cama, Alessandro
AU - Caramiello, Salvatore
AU - Capasso, Luigi
AU - Mariani-Costantini, Renato
PY - 1997/11
Y1 - 1997/11
N2 - We developed an original method that allows the simultaneous molecular amplification and analysis of human chromosome X- and Y-specific sequences from cortical compact bone using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The strategy is based on sequential amplification using external and internal primers. The targeted loci are SRY for chromosome Y and DXZ4 for chromosome X. Internal and external primer pairs for both loci were selected in order to allow the simultaneous amplification of short sequences of distinct molecular weight in the same reaction. Ethidium bromide stained PCR products were analysed on 2 per cent agarose gels. The presence of two distinct amplification bands permitted the fast and unequivocal identification of male bones, whereas female bones were identified by the presence of a single band. The technique was validated by comparative analysis of modern human DNAs of known sex and of DNAs from medieval bone samples whose sex could be determined using conventional anthropological methods. We then analysed bone samples from 40 burials found under the Church of St Maria Aprutiensis in Teramo, Abruzzo. These burials were dated to AD 800-1200 by 14C accelerated mass spectrometry radiometric analysis. Molecular analysis allowed the unambiguous identification of sex in all the samples studied. These results indicate that molecular techniques represent useful and often critical additions to anthropological studies of ancient human remains.
AB - We developed an original method that allows the simultaneous molecular amplification and analysis of human chromosome X- and Y-specific sequences from cortical compact bone using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The strategy is based on sequential amplification using external and internal primers. The targeted loci are SRY for chromosome Y and DXZ4 for chromosome X. Internal and external primer pairs for both loci were selected in order to allow the simultaneous amplification of short sequences of distinct molecular weight in the same reaction. Ethidium bromide stained PCR products were analysed on 2 per cent agarose gels. The presence of two distinct amplification bands permitted the fast and unequivocal identification of male bones, whereas female bones were identified by the presence of a single band. The technique was validated by comparative analysis of modern human DNAs of known sex and of DNAs from medieval bone samples whose sex could be determined using conventional anthropological methods. We then analysed bone samples from 40 burials found under the Church of St Maria Aprutiensis in Teramo, Abruzzo. These burials were dated to AD 800-1200 by 14C accelerated mass spectrometry radiometric analysis. Molecular analysis allowed the unambiguous identification of sex in all the samples studied. These results indicate that molecular techniques represent useful and often critical additions to anthropological studies of ancient human remains.
KW - Ancient DNA
KW - Anthropology
KW - Sex test
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0000852175&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0000852175&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0000852175
VL - 7
SP - 605
EP - 609
JO - International Journal of Osteoarchaeology
JF - International Journal of Osteoarchaeology
SN - 1047-482X
IS - 6
ER -