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A Molecular Approach to the Sexing of the Triple Burial at the Upper Paleolithic Site of Dolni Vestonice.

ABSTRACT: In the past decades ancient DNA research has brought numerous insights to archaeological research where traditional approaches were limited. The determination of sex in human skeletal remains is often challenging for physical anthropologists when dealing with incomplete, juvenile or pathological specimens. Molecular approaches allow sexing on the basis of sex-specific markers or by calculating the ratio of DNA derived from different chromosomes. Here we propose a novel approach that relies on the ratio of X chromosome-derived shotgun sequencing data to the autosomal coverage, thus establishing the probability of an XX or XY karyotype. Applying this approach to the individuals of the Upper Paleolithic triple burial of Dolní V?stonice reveals that all three skeletons, including the individual DV 15, whose sex has long been debated due to a pathological condition, were male.

SUBMITTER: Mittnik A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5051676 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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A Molecular Approach to the Sexing of the Triple Burial at the Upper Paleolithic Site of Dolní Věstonice.

Mittnik Alissa A Wang Chuan-Chao CC Svoboda Jiří J Krause Johannes J

PloS one 20161005 10

In the past decades ancient DNA research has brought numerous insights to archaeological research where traditional approaches were limited. The determination of sex in human skeletal remains is often challenging for physical anthropologists when dealing with incomplete, juvenile or pathological specimens. Molecular approaches allow sexing on the basis of sex-specific markers or by calculating the ratio of DNA derived from different chromosomes. Here we propose a novel approach that relies on th ...[more]

PMID: 27706187

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Correction: Chronological reassessment of the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition and Early Upper Paleolithic cultures in Cantabrian Spain.

Project description:[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194708.].

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