Influence of various environmental conditions on DNA isolation from dental pulp for sex determination using polymerase chain reaction

Objective: To determine the reliablility of sex determination by polymerase chain reaction Materials and Methods: Extracted teeth were subjected to the following treatment: Varying temperature (100, 200, 300, and 400°C), immersing in sea water (20-36 days), and burying at 30-cm depth. After subjecting to specific environmental stress condition, DNA (Deoxy Ribonucleic acid) was extracted from the tooth pulp. Primers Y-chromosome specifi c alphoid centromeric repeat sequences DYZ3, X-chromosome specifi c alphoid centromeric repeat sequence DXZ1 were used for sex determination by PCR. Results: Out of 15 samples subjected to various environmental conditions, DNA was isolated in 13 samples and sex determination was carried out. There was no DNA yield when teeth were subjected to high temperatures (300, 400°C). The DNA analysis after the respective PCR showed accurate sex determination of the 13 samples. Conclusion: our study showed that teeth are reliable source for sex determination even when subjected to different environmental conditions except during extreme high temperatures. Hence, sex determination by PCR analysis is the most reliable method in markedly decayed or preadolescent bodies.