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51 - Sex Determination Using Enamel Peptides After Simulated Forensic Heating

Friday, May 22, 2026
4:40 PM - 4:55 PM PST
Has Audio

    Presenting Author(s)

  • LG

    Leidys T. Galvis Restrepo, DMD (she/her/hers)

    Resident
    Howard University, Washington, D.C.
    Howard University School of Dentistry
    Lorton, Virginia, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • DT

    Donald Tyler, Jr., DDS

    Chair, Department of Oral Pathology and Research
    Howard University
    Washington, District of Columbia, United States

    • Research Mentor(s)

  • DT

    Donald Tyler, Jr., DDS

    Chair, Department of Oral Pathology and Research
    Howard University
    Washington, District of Columbia, United States

    • Program Director(s)

  • LB

    LaToya Barham, DDS

    Program Director
    Howard University College of Dentistry Pediatric Department
    Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Sex Determination Using Enamel Peptides After Simulated Forensic Heating
Galvis Restrepo LT, Tyler Jr D, Gu X, Ivanov Andrey, Marzia Mustamand, Jyothirmai Simhadri,
Howard University College of Dentistry, Washington, DC.

Purpose:
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the practicality and reliability of enamel-derived amelogenin peptide analysis for determining biological sex following exposure to simulated high-heat forensic conditions.

Methods:
This experimental in vitro study will use extracted human permanent and primary teeth collected with informed consent. Teeth will be stratified by recorded biological sex and allocated to control (no heat) or experimental groups exposed to 100°C, 300°C, 500°C–800°C for 15, 30, or 60 minutes using calibrated dental porcelain furnaces to simulate forensic fire conditions. Enamel will be cleaned, acid-etched, and proteins extracted. Peptides will be analyzed using nano–liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS/MS) to detect AMELX and AMELY. Predicted sex will be compared with recorded sex to calculate sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, and protein degradation will be assessed using peptide abundance and fragmentation patterns. Planned enrollment is 60 teeth with equal allocation between control and heat-exposed groups. The study will be single-blind, with the analyst blinded to donor sex.

Results:
Final data are pending while the enamel protein extraction protocol is being optimized. Sample processing and nanoLC-MS/MS analysis will begin once validation is complete.

Conclusions:
This study aims to define the thermal limits at which enamel-derived amelogenin peptides remain detectable for sex determination, providing forensic guidance for cases involving extreme heat and degraded remains.