Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-Based Sex Determination Using Unembalmed Human Cadaveric Skeletal Fragments From Sokoto, Northwestern Nigeria

The strategy developed for sex determination in skeletal remains is to amplify the highly degraded DNA, by use of primers that span short DNA fragments. To determine sex of unembalmed human cadaveric skeletal fragments from Sokoto, North-western Nigeria, using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). A single blind study of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-based sex determination using amelogenin gene and alphoid repeats primers on unembalmed human cadaveric skeletal fragments from Sokoto, North-western Nigeria, was undertaken. With amelogenin gene, genetic sex identification was achieved in four samples only. PCR Sensitivity = 40%, Specificity = 100%, Predictive value of positive test = 100%, Predictive value of negative test = 25%, False positive rate = 0%, False negative rate = 150%, Efficiency of test = 50%. Fisher’s exact probability test P = 1. Z-test: z-value = -1.0955, p>0.05; not statistically significant. With alphoid repeats primers, correct genetic sex identification was achieved in all the samples. 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: zand p values were invalid. The study, has demonstrated the applicability of PCR method of sex determination in unembalmed human skeletal fragments from Sokoto, Northwestern Nigeria. With amelogenin gene primers, correct genetic sex identification was achieved in four samples only. With alphoid repeats primers, correct genetic sex identification was achieved in all the samples. Therefore, alphoid repeats is more efficient and more reliable than amelogenin gene, in sex determination from unembalmed human skeletal fragments. This is the first known study determining the sex of unembalmed human skeletal fragments by means of PCR in Nigeria. There is need for further studies in Nigeria to complement the findings of this study.