Summary Accurate gender attribution has always been a priority in forensic cases and has always concerned archaeologists. The characteristics of forensic analysis of DNA samples are similar to those of ancient DNA, the main similarity being small quantities of workable molecules. The most frequently used markers for molecular sex assignment are the single-copy amelogenin gene located on the X (AMELX) and Y (AMELY) chromosomes. Sex determination kits used around the world have been designed based on the amplification of amelogenin genes, which are particularly useful in forensic cases. Sometimes these sex tests fail due to allelic dropout. New molecular markers for sex identification are constantly being developed to overcome this problem. Another problem characteristic of ancient DNA studies is the contamination of samples with modern DNA molecules. The accuracy of sex testing for ancient DNA studies depends on the ability to discriminate between authentic ancient DNA and modern contaminating DNA. Keywords: physical anthropology, sex attribution, molecular sex attribution, AMELX, AMELY, ancient DNA. Introduction Correct sexual identification has always been of concern to archaeologists or anthropologists and has great importance in forensic cases for today's population. In past populations, the conditions of men and women varied significantly and the dynamics of relations between the sexes changed over time. Physical anthropology may be able to identify the gender of skeletal remains with a higher degree of certainty by analyzing certain markers that indicate sex. The most common physical markers are the skull and pelvis. The characteristics of the skull tend to be more robust in males than in females and the subpubic region presents important differences due to the...... middle of paper ......F., Frey UH, Bajanowski, T. ( 2008) Amelogenin sex determination by pyrosequencing of short PCR products, International Journal of Legal Medicine, 122, 333-335. Vergnaud, G., Kaplan, L., Weisennbach, J., Dumez, Y., Berger, R., Tiollais, P., Guellaen, G. (1984) Rapid and early sex determination using trophoblast biopsy specimens and DNA probes specific for the Y chromosome, Br Med J, 289, 73-76. Willard, H.F. (1985) Chromosome-specific organization of human alpha satellite DNA, Am J Hun Genet, 37, 524-532.Wolfe, J., Darling, S.M., Erickson, R.P., Craig, I.W., Buckle, V.J., Rigby , PWJ, Willard, HFK, Goodfellow, PN (1985) Isolation and characterization of a family of repeats centromeric alphoids from the human Y chromosome, J Mol Biol, 182, 477-485. Zech, L. (1969) Investigation of metaphase chromosomes with DNA-binding fluorochromes, Exp Cell Res, 58, 463.