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Archaeologists use tooth enamel protein to show sex of human remains
EurekAlert! ^ | July 17, 2020 | University of California - Davis

Posted on 07/25/2020 10:33:36 AM PDT by SunkenCiv

A new method for estimating the biological sex of human remains based on reading protein sequences rather than DNA has been used to study an archaeological site in Northern California. The protein-based technique gave superior results to DNA analysis in studying 55 sets of human remains between 300 and 2,300 years old. The work is published July 17 in Scientific Reports.

The method targets amelogenin, a protein found in tooth enamel, said first author Tammy Buonasera, postdoctoral researcher working with Glendon Parker, adjunct associate professor in the Department of Environmental Toxicology at the University of California, Davis. The technique was developed in Parker's laboratory.

Buonasera, Parker, Jelmer Eerkens, professor of anthropology, and colleagues compared three methods for sex determination: the new proteomic method; DNA analysis; and osteology, or analysis of the size, shape and composition of the bones themselves. They applied these methods to remains from two ancestral Ohlone villages near Sunol, California. The site is being excavated by the Far West Anthropological Research Group of Davis in collaboration with the Muwekma Ohlone tribe.

Amelogenin is a protein found in tooth enamel, the hardest and most durable substance in the human body. The gene for amelogenin happens to be located on both the X and Y sex chromosomes, and the amelogenin-Y protein is slightly different from amelogenin-X.

The method works by retrieving a tiny amount of protein from a tooth. All proteins are made up of a chain of amino acids, so the protein is analyzed to give the amino acid sequence, which then defines the protein. Each of the 20 naturally occurring amino acids is specified by a three-letter code in DNA, so it is possible to work backward from the amino acid sequence and figure out the likely DNA code.

(Excerpt) Read more at eurekalert.org ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: ancientautopsies; godsgravesglyphs; helixmakemineadouble; teeth
The Neandertal Enigma
by James Shreeve

in local libraries
"Frayer's own reading of the record reveals a number of overlooked traits that clearly and specifically link the Neandertals to the Cro-Magnons. One such trait is the shape of the opening of the nerve canal in the lower jaw, a spot where dentists often give a pain-blocking injection. In many Neandertal, the upper portion of the opening is covered by a broad bony ridge, a curious feature also carried by a significant number of Cro-Magnons. But none of the alleged 'ancestors of us all' fossils from Africa have it, and it is extremely rare in modern people outside Europe." [pp 126-127]

1 posted on 07/25/2020 10:33:36 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
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To: StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; 1ofmanyfree; 21twelve; 24Karet; 2ndDivisionVet; 31R1O; ...

2 posted on 07/25/2020 10:33:51 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: SunkenCiv

But what if the tooth enamel protein reveals that the Neanderthal is male even though THAT particular individual SELF-IDENTIFIED as a female and used female pronouns? In that case we should ignore the science because its being purely transphobic and denying the person’s true identity they’ve had their whole life. Just ask Daniel Radcliffe. Damn bigoted tooth enamel protein results, please join the 21st century!


3 posted on 07/25/2020 10:38:05 AM PDT by BillyBoy ('States Rights' is NOT a suicide pact.)
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To: SunkenCiv

This research doesn’t adequately allow for gender and is therefore transphobic.

(the Left is so weird even sarcastic satire can’t really keep up with the weirdness)


4 posted on 07/25/2020 10:40:51 AM PDT by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher)
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To: SunkenCiv

Do any of those test say transgender …. Like male identifying as female or female identifying as male ?

I thought not !
Amazing this even has to be argued !


5 posted on 07/25/2020 10:40:57 AM PDT by Reily
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To: BillyBoy

These tooth enamel findings are trans-phobic.


6 posted on 07/25/2020 10:43:00 AM PDT by EvilCapitalist (Fire Fauci)
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To: Reily

Of course the authors had to get nonsensical statement in the paper “ ...While gender and biological sex are not the same thing, they are linked, …. “ I amazed they got away with saying they’re linked.


7 posted on 07/25/2020 10:44:40 AM PDT by Reily
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To: SunkenCiv
What if the remains belong to one who identified as another gender? 😋 I mean, we can't assume that he identified as what he or she born as.. Right?
8 posted on 07/25/2020 10:48:19 AM PDT by Deplorable American1776 (Proud to be a DeplorableAmerican with a Deplorable Family...even the dog is, too. :-) Trump 2020)
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To: SunkenCiv

How did they narrow it down because of all the Sexes we have today ?


9 posted on 07/25/2020 10:53:38 AM PDT by butlerweave
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To: SunkenCiv

But what Gender are they?


10 posted on 07/25/2020 10:56:00 AM PDT by eyeamok
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To: SunkenCiv

Wait just a gull darn minute there, what about the other 57 sexes? 8>)


11 posted on 07/25/2020 11:01:17 AM PDT by Robert DeLong
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To: SunkenCiv

LOL, this whole thread has evolved to discussing the problems with identifying the sex of remains, by getting into how there is apparently discrimination against “transsexuals” when researchers study their remains......

Someday in the distant future, the remains of known “transsexual” people such as Bruce Jenner and Bradley Manning will have to be studied.


12 posted on 07/25/2020 11:36:34 AM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: Reily
The statement, "While gender and biological sex are not the same thing, they are linked...," comes from a news release, "Archaeologists use tooth enamel protein to show sex of human remains," written by Andy Fell a science writer from the University of Commiefornia-Davis.

The only mention of sex and gender in the actual scientific paper, "A comparison of proteomic, genomic, and osteological methods of archaeological sex estimation," is the following:

Sex and gender are also fundamental in structuring an array of cultural behaviors, including residence patterns, kinship, economic roles, and identity construction and expression. How sex interacts with gender and these particular issues is not static and can vary in detail across societies and over time. It is not surprising that sex is one of the most basic and important measures in bioarchaeological and forensic analyses.
The authors of the scientific paper include seven references to these comments. Of those seven, only three references, published in 2005 or earlier, deal specifically with sex and gender. Of the three, one is a brief communication, one is from the Encyclopedia of sex and gender: men and women in the world’s cultures, and the third is about "re-envisioning sex and gender in ancient Mesoamerica." No ancient Mesoamericans appear to have been consulted.
13 posted on 07/25/2020 11:56:16 AM PDT by Carl Vehse
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To: SunkenCiv

Why would they want to do this?

Afterall, it’s been “proven” that gender is just a cultural construct. What if the ancient oldies constructed it different?

And just because genetics and stuff, how do they know what those ancient oldies actually identified as?


14 posted on 07/25/2020 12:02:12 PM PDT by Grimmy (equivocation is but the first step along the road to capitulation)
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To: Rurudyne

“This research doesn’t adequately allow for gender and is therefore transphobic.

(the Left is so weird even sarcastic satire can’t really keep up with the weirdness)”
*******************************************
The anthropologists will need to closely examine the wear patterns on the wrist bones for the telltale signs of limp wristedness. ;-)


15 posted on 07/25/2020 1:32:08 PM PDT by House Atreides (It is not a HOAX but it IS CERTAINLY A PRETEXT)
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To: House Atreides

And signs of hip wear for back door follies.


16 posted on 07/25/2020 1:34:54 PM PDT by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher)
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To: butlerweave
How did they narrow it down because of all the Sexes we have today

The number of sexes is unchanged and remains at two, male and female. However, the number of "genders" is limited only by the degree of delusions humans are capable of.

17 posted on 07/25/2020 2:18:48 PM PDT by MosesKnows
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