NCJ Number
130211
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 36 Issue: 3 Dated: (May 1991) Pages: 792-800
Date Published
1991
Length
9 pages
Annotation
An improved method for age estimation from teeth using amino acid racemization is described and applied to an unidentified body. The total amino acid (TAA) in the dentin was fractionated into an insoluble college fraction (IC) and a soluble peptide (SP).
Abstract
Lower central incisors from 13 persons, 37 to 71 years old, and first premolars from 14 persons, 20 to 65 years old, were used for this study. The coefficient values of correlation between the aspartic acid D/L ratio of these fractions and the actual age in adult lower incisors were 0.966 for TAA, 0.988 for IC, and 0.977 for SP. For adult first premolars, the coefficient values were 0.991 for TAA, 0.988 for IC, and 0.944 for SP. All three fractions showed high correlations between the D/L ratio and actual age. Maximum variations were within a range of three years, except for IC fraction from a first premolar which had a variation of four years. The least amount of variation was obtained with SP. The racemization rate was slightly lower in IC than in TAA, and occurred three times faster in PS than in TAA. Analysis of an unknown corpse yielded age estimates of 30 years old from TAA, 34 and 32 from IC, and 37 and 36 from SP. SP provided the closest estimate of the victim's actual age. This study indicates that age estimation from the analysis of SP is the most accurate. 2 tables, 3 figures, and 14 references (Author abstract modified)