Age Estimation by Amino Acid Racemization in Human Teeth
- 2 November 2010
- journal article
- case report
- Published by Wiley in Journal of Forensic Sciences
- Vol. 55 (6), 1630-1633
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2010.01472.x
Abstract
When an unidentified body is found, it is essential to establish the personal identity of the body in addition to investigating the cause of death. Identification is one of the most important functions of forensic dentistry. Fingerprint, dental, and DNA analysis can be used to accurately identify a body. However, if no information is available for identification, age estimation can contribute to the resolution of a case. The authors have been using aspartic acid racemization rates in dentin (D‐aspartic acid/L‐aspartic acid: D/L Asp) as an index for age estimation and have obtained satisfactory results. We report five cases of age estimation using the racemization method. In all five cases, estimated ages were accurate within a range ±3 years. We conclude that the racemization method is a reliable and practical method for estimating age.Keywords
This publication has 7 references indexed in Scilit:
- Novel chiral selectors anchored on polydimethylsiloxane as stationary phases for separation of derivatized amino acid enantiomers by capillary gas chromatographyJournal of Separation Science, 2006
- Strategy for the Estimation of Chronological Age Using the Aspartic Acid Racemization Method with Special Reference to Coefficient of Correlation Between D/L Ratios and AgesJournal of Forensic Sciences, 2005
- Differences in the D/L aspartic acid ratios in dentin among different types of teeth from the same individual and estimated ageInternational journal of legal medicine, 2003
- A review of the methodological aspects of aspartic acid racemization analysis for use in forensic scienceForensic Science International, 1999
- Estimation of Age from the Teeth of Unidentified Corpses Using the Amino Acid Racemization Method with Reference to Actual CasesAmerican Journal of Forensic Medicine & Pathology, 1995
- Aspartic acid racemisation in dentine as a measure of ageingNature, 1976
- Aspartic acid racemization in tooth enamel from living humans.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1975