A review of the methodological aspects of aspartic acid racemization analysis for use in forensic science

E R  Waite; M J  Collins; S  Ritz-Timme; H W  Schutz; C  Cattaneo; H I M  Borrman

A review of the methodological aspects of aspartic acid racemization analysis for use in forensic science

E R Waite, M J Collins, S Ritz-Timme, H W Schutz, C Cattaneo, H I M Borrman

Archaeology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Literature review › peer-review

Abstract

Accurate age determination of adult cadavers and human remains is a key requirement in forensic practice. The current morphological methods lack accuracy and precision, require specialist training and are costly. The use of aspartic acid racemization (AAR) in human dentine provides a simple, cost-effective solution and the method can achieve accuracies of +/-3 years at best. Currently, there are differences in AAR methodology between laboratories which produce different results on the rate of racemization in teeth. These inconsistencies must be resolved if the technique is to be successfully applied to age determinations in forensic cases. This paper reviews the differences in protocol which have been used, discusses how each method will affect the results obtained from AAR analysis and gives recommendations for optimization of the methological protocol as a first step towards international standardization. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	113-124
Number of pages	12
Journal	Forensic Science International
Volume	103
Issue number	2
Publication status	Published - 26 Jul 1999

Keywords

aspartic acid racemization
age at death determination
dentine
methodology
AMINO-ACID
AGE ESTIMATION
HUMAN-DENTIN
DEATH
PROTEINS
RATIOS
TOOTH
TEETH
ODONTOLOGY
CEMENTUM

Cite this

@article{826c6755c8744ad7963dfe2329189e64,

title = "A review of the methodological aspects of aspartic acid racemization analysis for use in forensic science",

abstract = "Accurate age determination of adult cadavers and human remains is a key requirement in forensic practice. The current morphological methods lack accuracy and precision, require specialist training and are costly. The use of aspartic acid racemization (AAR) in human dentine provides a simple, cost-effective solution and the method can achieve accuracies of +/-3 years at best. Currently, there are differences in AAR methodology between laboratories which produce different results on the rate of racemization in teeth. These inconsistencies must be resolved if the technique is to be successfully applied to age determinations in forensic cases. This paper reviews the differences in protocol which have been used, discusses how each method will affect the results obtained from AAR analysis and gives recommendations for optimization of the methological protocol as a first step towards international standardization. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.",

keywords = "aspartic acid racemization, age at death determination, dentine, methodology, AMINO-ACID, AGE ESTIMATION, HUMAN-DENTIN, DEATH, PROTEINS, RATIOS, TOOTH, TEETH, ODONTOLOGY, CEMENTUM",

author = "Waite, {E R} and Collins, {M J} and S Ritz-Timme and Schutz, {H W} and C Cattaneo and Borrman, {H I M}",

year = "1999",

month = jul,

day = "26",

language = "English",

volume = "103",

pages = "113--124",

journal = "Forensic Science International",

issn = "0379-0738",

publisher = "Elsevier",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - A review of the methodological aspects of aspartic acid racemization analysis for use in forensic science

AU - Waite, E R

AU - Collins, M J

AU - Ritz-Timme, S

AU - Schutz, H W

AU - Cattaneo, C

AU - Borrman, H I M

PY - 1999/7/26

Y1 - 1999/7/26

N2 - Accurate age determination of adult cadavers and human remains is a key requirement in forensic practice. The current morphological methods lack accuracy and precision, require specialist training and are costly. The use of aspartic acid racemization (AAR) in human dentine provides a simple, cost-effective solution and the method can achieve accuracies of +/-3 years at best. Currently, there are differences in AAR methodology between laboratories which produce different results on the rate of racemization in teeth. These inconsistencies must be resolved if the technique is to be successfully applied to age determinations in forensic cases. This paper reviews the differences in protocol which have been used, discusses how each method will affect the results obtained from AAR analysis and gives recommendations for optimization of the methological protocol as a first step towards international standardization. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

AB - Accurate age determination of adult cadavers and human remains is a key requirement in forensic practice. The current morphological methods lack accuracy and precision, require specialist training and are costly. The use of aspartic acid racemization (AAR) in human dentine provides a simple, cost-effective solution and the method can achieve accuracies of +/-3 years at best. Currently, there are differences in AAR methodology between laboratories which produce different results on the rate of racemization in teeth. These inconsistencies must be resolved if the technique is to be successfully applied to age determinations in forensic cases. This paper reviews the differences in protocol which have been used, discusses how each method will affect the results obtained from AAR analysis and gives recommendations for optimization of the methological protocol as a first step towards international standardization. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

KW - aspartic acid racemization

KW - age at death determination

KW - dentine

KW - methodology

KW - AMINO-ACID

KW - AGE ESTIMATION

KW - HUMAN-DENTIN

KW - DEATH

KW - PROTEINS

KW - RATIOS

KW - TOOTH

KW - TEETH

KW - ODONTOLOGY

KW - CEMENTUM

M3 - Literature review

SN - 0379-0738

VL - 103

SP - 113

EP - 124

JO - Forensic Science International

JF - Forensic Science International

IS - 2

ER -