Brief communication: multiplex X/Y-PCR improves sex identification in aDNA analysis

This study introduces a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based multiplex approach to improve the certainty of molecular sex identification on archaeological skeletal material. We coamplified amelogenin, two X-chromosomal short tandem repeats (STRs) (DXS6789 and DXS9898), and two Y-specific STRs (DYS391 and DYS392). The amplification results of this multiplex approach back each other up, and enable a reliable sex identification. This coamplification of X- and Y-specific markers in a multiplex assay combines the added advantage of positive identification of both female and male individuals with raising the validity of the diagnosis by obtaining multiple data simultaneously. This multiplex system was successfully applied to 3,000-year-old bone material.