The Shape of the Cochlea as an Indicator of Sex

France: Archaeology The Shape of the Cochlea as an Indicator of Sex

08.08.2019Editor: Alexander Stark

A French-South African collaboration has develop the first reliable method for sex determination, including among children and cases where DNA is missing or too altered.

Since the cochlea is among the hardest bones in the skull a new technique can determine the sex of very old fossils, even when fragmentary or immature.
(Source: gemeinfrei / Pixabay )

Toulouse/France — The auditory section of the inner ear, or the “cochlea,” does not have the same shape from birth depending on whether one is a man or a woman. This is due to the torsion of the cochlear spiral, which differs based on gender, especially at its tip.

Until now, it was impossible to determine the sex of a child from its skeleton, while for adults this could be done reliably only from studying the pelvis, which is not always preserved. Since the cochlea is among the hardest bones in the skull — a bone that is found very frequently at archaeological sites — the newly developed technique can determine the sex of very old fossils, even when fragmentary or immature. This research was featured in an article published by Scientific Reports.

Gallery

Average female (left) and male (right) shapes for the cochlear spiral curve, whose torsion has been coded on a coloured scale. While the two forms are oriented in the same way, the geometric differences are visible.

References: Cochlear shape reveals that the human organ of hearing is sex-typed from birth. J. Braga, C. Samir, L. Risser, J. Dumoncel, D. Descouens, J. F. Thackeray, P. Balaresque, A. Oettlé, J.-M. Loubes & A. Fradi, Scientific Reports, 26 July 2019.

Unfold for details of your consent

Stand vom 23.03.2021

Naturally, we always handle your personal data responsibly. Any personal data we receive from you is processed in accordance with applicable data protection legislation. For detailed information please see our privacy policy.

Consent to the use of data for promotional purposes

I hereby consent to Vogel Communications Group GmbH & Co. KG, Max-Planckstr. 7-9, 97082 Würzburg including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG (hereafter: Vogel Communications Group) using my e-mail address to send editorial newsletters. A list of all affiliated companies can be found here

Newsletter content may include all products and services of any companies mentioned above, including for example specialist journals and books, events and fairs as well as event-related products and services, print and digital media offers and services such as additional (editorial) newsletters, raffles, lead campaigns, market research both online and offline, specialist webportals and e-learning offers. In case my personal telephone number has also been collected, it may be used for offers of aforementioned products, for services of the companies mentioned above, and market research purposes.

In case I access protected data on Internet portals of Vogel Communications Group including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG, I need to provide further data in order to register for the access to such content. In return for this free access to editorial content, my data may be used in accordance with this consent for the purposes stated here.

Right of revocation

I understand that I can revoke my consent at will. My revocation does not change the lawfulness of data processing that was conducted based on my consent leading up to my revocation. One option to declare my revocation is to use the contact form found at https://support.vogel.de. In case I no longer wish to receive certain newsletters, I have subscribed to, I can also click on the unsubscribe link included at the end of a newsletter. Further information regarding my right of revocation and the implementation of it as well as the consequences of my revocation can be found in the data protection declaration, section editorial newsletter.

(ID:46072227)

France: Archaeology The Shape of the Cochlea as an Indicator of Sex

Subscribe to the newsletter now

Don't Miss out on Our Best Content

Consent to the use of data for promotional purposes