Zák Davidson
Degree registered for: MSc (Medicine) Biological Anthropology
Supervisor:A/Prof Jacqui Friedling, PhD
UCT FHS Dept of Human Biology,CABA Division
Co-supervisor: Susan Chandler, PhD
UWC Faculty of Dentistry
Dept of Oral Biology, Pathology, and Radiology,
Dissertation title: Effects of dental treatment on forensic sex estimation from dentition in a modern population of the Western Cape of South Africa
Description:
The biological profile is developed as a summary statistical estimation based on metric and morphological variations of whatever remains are recovered from the site of discovery (Spradley, 2016). The constituent parts of the biological profile are: biological sex, age-at-death, stature, ancestry, idiosyncratic trauma and morphology, and osteopathological processes (Austin and King, 2016). In the context of the Western Cape, work on nonmetric traits has been well represented in recent literature (Irish 2013; 2015), but there has been a dearth of recent metric analysis for this region. Exploration of metric variation is warranted to provide a usable index of dental sexual dimorphism.
Because of their longevity, resistance to taphonomic changes, and the likelihood of being found; teeth are perhaps one of the most useful parts of the skeletal anatomy to study (Alt et al., 2012).A quantitative comparison is a key feature of odontometrics, the measuring and comparison of tooth size from both a macro and micro social level of observation. Radiographic and odontometric analysis can be used to determine whether or not dental restorations affect the forensic estimation of sex.
Restorative, also known as operative, dentistry is the removal of infected or defective tissues from the teeth (Cheng et al., 2022). The degree of difference of the restoration and the original tooth structure introduces an uncontrollable variable, which is normally negated by excluding the tooth. This unknown confounds the use of any number of teeth, as restorations are possible on any tooth, for this reason, a full odontometric assessment must be performed. It is important to establish as much empirical information as possible and the unnecessary exclusion of restored teeth prime facie harms the correct estimation of the biological profile. This study seeks to study the sex-specific variations in quantitative robusticity of teeth, with a goal of establishing a reference index for the study population.
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Lutho Daza
MSc (Med) Applied Anatomy
Thesis title: An anatomical investigation: the morphometry and morphology of the internal carotid artery using radiological scans within a select South African population in the Western Cape
Registered in: Department of Human Biology
Supervisor: Mrs Jeshika Luckrajh-Williams
Co-supervisor: Dr Kentse Mpolokeng. A/Prof Geney Gunston
Thesis description
The internal carotid artery (ICA) is a major vessel responsible for arterial vascularisation to the anterior and middle aspects of the brain. The ICA is divided into several segments that are tortuous along its course as it extends from the common carotid bifurcation through the neck and base of the skull to the distal Dural ring. Subsequently, there are several variations along the course of the ICA which have been reported. Anatomical variations of the ICA have been associated with various neurovascular diseases, potentially complicating endovascular and surgical approaches.
The morphometry of the ICA is of particular import to endovascular neurosurgeons as this vessel is operated on during procedure such as aneurysm clipping, angioplasty, and stenting. The medical and surgical pathology of this vessel is quite varied and complex, because they are a frequent site of atherosclerosis, stenosis, and aneurysms, especially in elderly patient. Atherosclerosis in major arteries supplying blood to the brain is one of the most common causes of stroke worldwide. Given the frequency of vascular pathology on the carotid system, it is useful to master the anatomical variations of this system, as accurately and thoroughly as possible. Therefore, understanding the anatomical characteristics and morphometrics of the ICA is of the highest importance.
Therefore, this study aims to investigate ICA variations and morphometry using radiological images in a South African population.
Caylin McFarlane
Degree: MSc (Medicine) Applied Anatomy
Title: Informed Consent and Perceptions: A Study of the Body Donation Programme at the University of Cape Town
Supervisor: Dr Kentse Mpolokeng
Co-supervisor: A/Prof Geney Gunston
Thesis description: Body donation programmes involve bodies donated for anatomy teaching, learning and research at institutions such as authorised universities or hospitals. Donations are, usually, voluntarily and freely made with informed consent by the donor. There are instances where donations are made after death by the donor’s next of kin or the Head of the South African Department of Health.
Informed consent is defined as “the practical application of the principle of autonomy and respect for persons, whereby the researcher demonstrates their respect for the research participant as a person, who is capable of decision-making”. This implies the participant is informed of the different parts of the research, participation is voluntary, and the participant has the right to refuse or withdraw from the study at any given time.
Aim: This study will explore the concept of informed consent in the context of body donation programmes and how the University of Cape Town ensures informed consent.
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Siwaphiwe Mfengu
Degree: MSc (Med) Biological Anthropology
Title: Comparative Analysis of Physiological Stress Markers on Pre and Post 2000 BP Southern African Hunter-Gatherer/Herders
Supervisors: Prof. Victoria Gibbon & Dr. Calvin Mole
Thesis description: Humans have always had complex interactions with their environments and other human beings throughout history, and the scope of this study is on the effects of the introduction of a new population to an existing population with completely different lifestyles and subsistence strategies. Human social organisation can either prevent or worsen the impacts of illness (Pfeiffer, 2022) and stress. Every human community has unique ecological conditions and social structures that influence the patterns of illness they encounter (Pfeiffer, 2022). Day to day biophysical, socioeconomic, and political factors change biological homeostasis and put strain on people individually and as a group (Gibbon & Davies, 2020). By comparing the skeletal remains from before and after the significant changes in the sociopolitical environment of southern Africa around 2000 BP, one can investigate the potential effects of these changes on the biological health and stress levels of these individuals (Gibbon & Davies, 2020). Thus, the aim of this study is to do a comparative analysis on skeletal remains of hunter-gatherer/herder from pre and post 2000 BP to examine the prevalence of physiological stress markers between the two populations, which may help us discern the impact of the migration of Bantu-speaking people on the livelihoods and health of the southern African hunter-gatherer/herders.
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Matlhogonolo Mutle
Degree: MSc in Biological Anthropology
Project title: A retrospective comparative study on bone trauma observed in suspected gender-based violence cases received at Salt River Mortuary
Supervisors: Associate Professor Jacqui Friedling and Dr Itumeleng Molefe
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Boitumelo Molale
Degree: MSc Biological Anthropology
Project title: Gender-based violence in decedents: a radiologic imaging examination of postcranial trauma
Supervisors: A/Prof Jacqui Friedling
Mr Luthando Swaai
Degree: MSc (Med) Anatomy
Thesis title: The anatomical variants of the ulnar nerve and incidence of perioperative ulnar neuropathy medico-legal cases in the Southern African region
Supervisor: Ms Jeshika Luckrajh
Co-supervisor(s): A/Prof Geney Gunston; Ms Kerri Keet
Ulnar neuropathy has been described as a common yet unexplained perioperative complication. According to the American Society of Anaesthesiologists, it accounts for a third of all iatrogenic nerve related injuries. Due to the severe nature of this injury which commonly leads to chronic pain and disability, malpractice litigation is often pursued by patients. Incorrect positioning of the arm during surgery may stretch or compress the ulnar nerve leading to neuropathy. However, there are also several anatomical variations of the ulnar nerve-cubital tunnel complex which may lead to entrapment of the ulnar nerve. Furthermore, osteological variation such as an enlarged coronoid process of the ulnar bone may compromise blood supply to the nerve. Predisposing anatomical variations may contribute to the aetiology of ulnar neuropathy and it is therefore necessary for these factors to be taken into account during the investigation of medicolegal cases. In addition, the level of awareness towards ulnar neuropathy by surgeons may also be a contributing factor.
The study brought forward these research questions: What are the anatomical parameters of the ulnar nerve? What is the incidence of variations of the ulnar nerve? What is the incidence of perioperative ulnar neuropathy medico-legal lawsuits in Southern African region?
Therefore, to answer these questions, this project will utilise embalmed bodies to investigate anatomical parameters of the ulnar nerve and access Southern African medico-legal databases to document the incidence of medico-legal cases of perioperative ulnar neuropathy in the Southern African region.
Contact details: Email
Cameron Timm
Title: The accuracy of dry and 3D virtual pelvic bone models for morphological age-at-death estimation
Supervisors: Ms Athi Baliso & Associate Professor Victoria Gibbon
Thesis description: Accurately estimating age-at-death from human skeletal remains is crucial for constructing a biological profile to identify unknown individuals. However, estimating age-at-death in adults is challenging due to the slow and inconsistent nature of age-related changes after reaching adulthood. The most common method for adults involves the macroscopic evaluation of morphological changes related to skeletal degeneration. The pelvis is a reliable skeletal indicator for estimating age-at-death in adults due to its gradual age-related changes. Methods such as those developed by Lovejoy et al. (1985), Brooks & Suchey (1990), and Buckberry & Chamberlain (2002) are widely recognised for estimating age-at-death from the pelvis. However, these methods were primarily developed using American and European reference samples and have not been validated on South Africans of Mixed Ancestry (SAMA). Recent advances in 3D scanning have introduced virtual bone models as an alternative to dry skeletal analysis. However, little is known about their comparative accuracy for age estimation. This study aims to evaluate the accuracy of three well-established morphological methods when applied to both dry os coxae and their corresponding 3D virtual models in a sample of SAMA individuals
Graduated Masters Students
2025: Jason Bosch: MPhil (Biomedical Forensic Science) – Forensic Anthropology Cancellous bone use in the estimation of sex in a South African cadaveric and forensic sample
Supervisors – Associate Professor Jacqui Friedling and Dr Calvin Mole
2024 Sandile Ntuli: MSc (Med)(Anatomy); A morphological and histological analysis of vascular conduit options for coronary artery bypass grafting.
Supervisors: Ms Jeshika Luckrajh and Dr Geney Gunston
2023 Jessica Garlick : MSc (Med) (Applied Anatomy): Variations in the circulus arteriosus cerebri, Circle of Willis, in a South African sample and the potential to predispose people to aneurysms and ischaemic stroke.
Supervisors: Professor Graham Louw and Dr Kentse Mpolokeng
2023 Daniël Kotze : MSc (Med) (Biological Anthropology) : Assessing the applicability of the pulp/tooth area ratio method for estimating adult age-at-death in a South African sample: A comparative study using digital periapical radiography and stereomicroscopy
Supervisors: A/Prof. Victoria Gibbon and Mr Calvin Mole
2023 Reagobaka Lichaba: MSc (Applied Anatomy) :A morphometric study of the brain ventricles of patients diagnosed with chronic hydrocephalus at Groote Schuur Hospital.
Supervisors: A/Prof Delva Shamley, Dr Kentse Mpolokeng (CABA) and Dr Sally Rothemeyer (Neurosurgery).
2023 Mbalentle Madolo MSc (Med) (Applied Anatomy): A dissection and angiographic study of anatomical variations of the anterior communicating artery complex in a South African sample.
Supervisor: Dr Kentse Mpolokeng Co-supervisors: A/Prof Geney Gunston and Dr Stuart More
2023 Chelsey Voegt : MSc ( Biological Anthropology) Gender and life stage as risk factors of perimortem injuries in South African medicolegal death investigations (MDIs).
Supervisors: Assoc. Prof Victoria Gibbon and Dr. Elizabeth Dinkele
2022. Sadiyah Malek. MSc (Med) (Biological Anthropology). Assessment and improvement of current sex estimation standards for application in Holocene San and Khoekhoe populations. Supervisors: A/Prof Victoria Gibbon; Prof Judith Sealy (Department of Archaeology, UCT).
2021. Athi Baliso. MSc (Med) (Biological Anthropology). Identification of the deceased: A retrospective review of Forensic Anthropology Cape Town casework. Supervisors: A/Prof Victoria Gibbon & Dr. Laura Heathfield (Department of Pathology, UCT).
2020. Tarryn Haikney. MPhil (Pathology). Investigation into DNA recovered from human teeth for forensic applications. Supervisors: Dr. Laura Heathfield (Department of Pathology, UCT) & A/Prof Victoria Gibbon.
2020. Christie Putter MSc (Med) (Biological Anthropology). Black River Excavation: A forensic anthropological investigation of the skeletal remains recovered from a historic cemetery. Supervisors: Dr Jacqui Friedling & Dr Mary Patrick.
2019. Tafadzwa Tawha. MPhil (Pathology). Geometric morphometric analyses to assess the accuracy of the zygoma for estimating ancestry in a South African population. Supervisors: A/Prof Victoria Gibbon, Elizabeth Dinkele & Calvin Mole (Department of Pathology, UCT).
2019. Kyle Paulssen. MSc (Med) (Anatomy). Axillary web syndrome after treatment for breast cancer: a correlation of clinical variables with imaging data focusing on fascial changes before and after physiotherapy treatment. Supervisors: A/Prof Delva Shamley & Dr. Charles Slater.
2018. Elizabath Dinkele.MSc (Med) (Biological Anthropology). Ancestral variation in mid-craniofacial morphology of a South African sample. Supervisor: Dr Jacqui Friedling.
2018. Chandra Longden-Thurgood. MPhil (Pathology). Optimisation of DNA Extraction from Teeth Submerged in Seawater in False Bay, South Africa. Supervisor: A/Prof Victoria Gibbon & Dr. Laura Heathfield (Department of Pathology, UCT).
2018. Liesl Arendse. MSc (Med) (Biological Anthropology). Stature estimation: Evaluating regression formulae for different population groups in South Africa. Supervisor: Dr. Jacqui Friedling.
2016. Schwab Petra. MPhil (Pathology). The importance of a protocol in the recovery and handling of burned human remains in a forensic context. Supervisors: Dr. Jacqui Friedling and Dr. S Maistry.
2015. Clarke Carrie. MSc (Med) (Biological Anthropology). Does variation in facial fatness affect soft tissue thickness standards? Supervisors: Prof. Alan G. Morris and Dr. Jacqui Friedling.
2014. Du Toit Francesca. MSc (Med) (Applied Anatomy). Circulus arteriosus cerebri: Anatomical variations and their correlation to cerebral aneurysms. Supervisor: Prof. Graham Louw.
2014. Sadler Max. MSc (Med) (Applied Anatomy). Variations in the insertions of tibialis posterior muscle and the structure of the medial longitudinal arch. Supervisor: Prof. Graham Louw.
2013. Maass Petra. MSc (Med) (Biological Anthropology). The bony pelvis: With specific attention to the areas of occurrence of the scars of parturition. Supervisor: Dr. Jacqui Friedling.
2013. Meyer Anja. MSc (Biological Anthropology). An assessment of metabolic bone disease in the skeletal remains of Chinese indentured mine labourers from the Witwatersrand. Supervisors: Prof. Maryna Steyn and Prof. Alan G. Morris. University of Pretoria.
2013. Rip da Silva. MSc (Med) (Applied Anatomy). Anatomical study of the variation in the branching patterns and histology of the aorta in a South African population. Supervisors: Dr Geney Gunston and Dr R Alexander.
2013. Van der Berg Kerri. MSc (Med) (Applied Anatomy). An investigation of the brachial plexus and surrounding anatomical structures in a Southern African cadaver sample. Supervisor: Prof. Graham Louw.
2012. Speed Belinda. MSc (Med) (Biological Anthropology). South African standards for age estimation of children between 0 and 13 years using radiographs of the hand and wrist. Supervisor: Prof. Alan G. Morris.
2010. Rossouw Lache. MSc (Med) (Biological Anthropology). A forensic anthropological investigation of skeletal remains recovered from a 1000 year old archaeological site in North-western Namibia. Supervisor: Prof. Alan G. Morris.
2010. Dembetembe Kundisai. MSc (Med) (Biological Anthropology). Age estimation using epiphyseal closure at the wrist joint: an investigation of individuals of African origin, age 14 to 22. Supervisor: Prof. Alan G. Morris.
2008. Gangata Hope. MSc (Med) (Applied Anatomy). An investigation into the parameters related to the equinus ankle in children with hemiplegic and diplegic forms of cerebral palsy. Supervisor: Supervisor: Prof. Graham Louw.
2008. Jenkins C. MPhil (Orthopaedics). Can a ‘one off’ physiotherapy intervention help patients who have difficulty kneeling after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty? Supervisor: Dr. Delva Shamley. Oxford Brookes University.
2008. Manyaapelo Thabang. MSc (Med) (Biological Anthropology). An odontological analysis of 18th and 19th century burials from in and around Cape Town. Supervisor: Prof. Alan G. Morris.
2006. Dlamini Nonhlanhla. MSc (Med) (Biological Anthropology). An assessment of the health status by non-specific stress indicators of the early farming populations from central and southern Africa. Supervisor: Prof. Alan G. Morris.
2003. Friedling L Jacqui. MSc (Med) (Biological Anthropology). Dental modification practices on the Cape Flats in the Western Cape. Supervisor: Prof. Alan G. Morris.
2002. Sanders Victoria. MSc. (Med) (Applied Anatomy). An assessment of muscle insertion sites and biomechanical beam analysis in living subjects. Supervisors: Prof. Alan G. Morris and Prof. Graham Louw.
2000. Nyati L. MSc (Med) (Applied Anatomy). Cross-sectional observations of growth and maturation in children with Down Syndrome. MSc, University of Pretoria. Supervisors: Prof. Maryna Steyn and Prof. Graham Louw.
1998. Apollonio H. MA (Med) (Archaeology). Identifying the dead: 18th century mortuary practices at Cobern Street, Cape Town. Supervisors: Prof. Martin Hall and Prof. Alan G. Morris.
1997. Botha W. MSc (Med) (Biomedical Engineering). An anthropometric survey of female nurses working in the Western Cape: implications for equipment and workspace design. Supervisors: Bob Bridges and Prof. Alan G. Morris.
1994. Bell Christine. MSc (Med) (Applied Anatomy). Clinically-defined osteoarthritis, sex and age: their influence on the geometry, morphology and biomechanics of the upper cervical spine. Supervisor: Prof. Alan G. Morris.
1993. Kovacs Jonathan. MSc (Med) (Biological Anthropology). The post-cranial remains of Papio ursinus and fossil baboons from South African Australopithecine sites. Supervisor: Prof. Alan G. Morris.
1989. Patrick Mary K. MA (Med) (Archaeology). An archaeological and anthropological study of the human skeletal remains from the Oakhurst Rock Shelter, George, Cape Province, South Africa. Supervisor: Prof. Alan G. Morris.