Allele frequency data for 16 STR loci in the Vietnamese population

Genetic Structure and Forensic Utility of 23 Autosomal STRs of the Ethnic Lao Groups From Laos and Thailand

The Lao Isan and Laotian are the major groups in the area of present-day northeastern Thailand and Laos, respectively. Several previous genetic and forensic studies indicated an admixed genetic structure of Lao Isan with the local Austroasiatic speaking groups, e.g. Khmer, whereas there is a paucity of reporting Laotian’s forensic short tandem repeats (STRs). Here, we newly generated 451 genotypes of seven Lao Isan and three Laotian populations (two Lao Lum and one Lao Thoeng) using 23 autosomal STRs embedded in Verifiler^TM plus PCR Amplification kit. We reported allelic frequency and forensic parameters in different dataset: combined ethnic Lao groups, combined Lao Isan populations and combined Laotians. Overall, the forensic parameter results indicate that this set of STRs is suitable for forensic investigation. The anthropological results revealed the genetic homogeneity of Tai-Kadai speaking Lao groups from Thailand and Laos, consistent with previous studies, while the Austroasiatic speaking groups from southern Laos showed genetic relatedness to both Lao Isan and Khmer. In sum, STRs allelic frequency results can provide the genetic backgrounds of populations which is useful for anthropological research and also strengthens the regional forensic database in both countries.

Autosomal Microsatellite Investigation Reveals Multiple Genetic Components of the Highlanders from Thailand

The hill tribes of northern Thailand comprise nine officially recognized groups: the Austroasiatic-speaking (AA) Khmu, Htin and Lawa; the Hmong-Mien-speaking (HM) IuMien and Hmong; and the Sino-Tibetan-speaking (ST) Akha, Karen, Lahu and Lisu. Except the Lawa, the rest of the hill tribes migrated into their present habitats only very recently. The Thai hill tribes were of much interest to research groups focusing on study of cultural and genetic variation because of their unique languages and cultures. So far, there have been several genetic studies of the Thai hill tribes. However, complete forensic microsatellite database of the Thai hill tribes is still lacking. To construct such database, we newly generated 654 genotypes of 15 microsatellites commonly used in forensic investigation that belong to all the nine hill tribes and also non-hill tribe highlanders from northern Thailand. We also combined 329 genotypes from previous studies of northern Thai populations bringing to a total of 983 genotypes, which were then subjected to genetic structure and population relationships analyses. Our overall results indicated homogenous genetic structure within the HM- and Tai-Kadai (TK)-speaking groups, large genetic divergence of the HM-speaking Hmong but not IuMien from the other Thai groups, and genetic heterogeneity within the ST- and AA-speaking groups, reflecting different population interactions and admixtures. In addition to establishing genetic relationships within and among these populations, our finding, which provides a more complete picture of the forensic microsatellite database of the multiple Thai highland dwellers, would not only serve to expand and strengthen forensic investigation in Thailand, but would also benefit its neighboring countries of Laos and Myanmar, from which many of the Thai hill tribes originated and where large populations of these ethnic groups still reside.

Population genetic polymorphism and mutation analysis of 19 autosomal STR loci in Jiangsu Han individuals in Eastern China

Aim: Genetic polymorphisms and the mutation ratio of 19 autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) loci were analysed in 10,000 individuals and 7755 families from Jiangsu Province in Eastern China.Subjects and methods: Nineteen STR loci were amplified by a multiplex amplification system and genotyped on the ABI 3130 Genetic Analyser. Allele frequencies, forensic parameters and mutations for the 19 autosomal STR loci were statistically analysed.Results: In total, 344 genotypes were discovered. No significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed. The combined power of discrimination reached 0.9999999999999999984341, and the combined probability of paternity exclusion was 0.999999989. The pairwise genetic distance and p-values between the Jiangsu and 17 published populations depended on the F_ST value calculation and are shown by the neighbour-joining evolutionary tree. No statistically significant differences were found, except for the Xinjiang Altay Han (p = 0.01802) population. The average mutation rate of the Jiangsu population across all 19 loci was 1.4 × 10^-3. The average mutation rate of the 13 core CODIS STR loci remained below 2 × 10^-3 and there was no difference and relatively high consistency (p < 0.001) by correlation coefficient analysis among the six groups.Conclusions: Allelic genetic polymorphisms and mutation data were obtained from a large number of samples, which indicated that the amplification kit is suitable for forensic application and that the Jiangsu population has its own genetic characteristics that are different from those of other ethnic populations.

Allele frequencies for 22 autosomal STRs in the Kinh population in Vietnam

We collected and analysed the autosomal STR data of 2040 unrelated Kinh individuals living in Vietnam. Allele frequencies and forensic parameters were calculated, showing high values for the combined powers of discrimination and exclusion. Phylogenetic analysis was performed to determine the genetic relationship of the Kinh population with other Asian populations.

A microsatellite guided insight into the genetic status of adi, an isolated hunting-gathering tribe of northeast India

Tibeto-Burman populations of India provide an insight into the peopling of India and aid in understanding their genetic relationship with populations of East, South and Southeast Asia. The study investigates the genetic status of one such Tibeto-Burman group, Adi of Arunachal Pradesh based on 15 autosomal microsatellite markers. Further the study examines, based on 9 common microsatellite loci, the genetic relationship of Adi with 16 other Tibeto-Burman speakers of India and 28 neighboring populations of East and Southeast Asia. Overall, the results support the recent formation of the Adi sub-tribes from a putative ancestral group and reveal that geographic contiguity is a major influencing factor of the genetic affinity among the Tibeto-Burman populations of India.

Autosomal microsatellite variability of the Arrernte people of Australia

The genomic diversity of the Arrernte people of Australia or caterpillar people was investigated utilizing 13 autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) markers. Significant departures from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were detected at the D18S51, TPOX and CSF1PO loci, which persisted after applying the Bonferroni correction. Gene diversity values oscillate between 0.6302 (CSF1PO) and 0.8731 (D21S11). Observed heterozygosity (Ho) ranges from 0.2632 (D18S51) to 0.8333 (vWA) and is lower than the expected heterozygosity (He) for 12 of the 13 loci analyzed. The genetic relationships of the Arrernte with Middle Eastern, East Asian, South Asian and Indian populations were analyzed by distance-based methods, including Neighbor-Joining trees and nonmetric multidimensional scaling. In addition, the genetic contribution of the populations included in the analysis to the Arrernte gene pool was estimated utilizing weighted least square coefficients. Although the Arrernte population exhibits a remarkable level of genetic differentiation, results of the phylogeographic analyses based on autosomal microsatellite data suggest a certain degree of genetic relatedness between the Arrernte tribe of Australia and populations from the Indian subcontinent. In contrast, the STR diversity analyses failed to detect substantial East Asian contribution to the genetic background of the Arrernte group.

Allelic drop-out in the STR system ACTBP2 (SE33) as a result of mutations in the primer binding region

In the course of routine genotyping of forensic reference samples by multiplex PCR, an allelic drop-out due to mutations in the primer binding regions of the highly polymorphic STR marker ACTBP2 was observed in 17 samples. The variation rate was estimated to be 0.0014 (95% confidence interval: 0.0006-0.003). The most frequently found mutation was an G to A transition in the reverse primer binding region which was present in 14 out of 17 cases. To overcome the problem we have added a modified reverse primer to different multiplex kits that led to the correct genotype.

Allele frequencies of 13 short tandem repeat (STR) loci in the Romanian population

A population study on 13 tetra- and pentameric STR loci (D3S1358, VWA, D8S1179, D21S11, D18S51, D16S539, D2S1338, D19S433, THO1, FGA, ACTBP2 (SE33), Penta D and Penta E) was performed with Romanians from the Bucharest area.

Allele frequencies of 15 STR loci of three main ethnic populations in Singapore using an in-house marker panel

Allele frequency data for 15 Short Tandem Repeat (STR) loci was studied for the three main ethnic groups residing in Singapore, namely Chinese, Malay and Indian. An in-house STR marker panel was employed, consisting all 13 tetranucleaotide STR listed in CODIS (Combined DNA Index System, USA) and two pentanucleaotide STR, Penta D and Penta E. This represents a comprehensive report for allele distribution in the Singapore population for these 15 microsatellite markers commonly used in forensic science.

Allele frequencies of the 15 AmpFlSTR Identifiler loci in the population of Vojvodina Province, Serbia and Montenegro

The 15 AmpF lSTR Identifiler loci (D8S1179, D21S11, D7S820, CSF1PO, D3S1358, TH01, D13S317, D16S539, D2S1338, D19S433, VWA, TPOX, D18S51, D5S818 and FGA) were analyzed in the sample of 100 unrelated, autochthonous healthy adult Serbians from Novi Sad (Vojvodina Province, Serbia and Montenegro). The agreement with HWE was confirmed for all loci with the exception of D7S820 (based on the chi2-test only). The combined power of discrimination (PD) and the combined power of exclusion (PE) for the 15 tested STR loci were 0.99999999999999995 and 0.9999990, respectively. According to the presented data, D2S1338 and D18S51 are the most informative markers. Based on allelic frequencies and statistical parameters for forensic testing, it may be suggested that the AmpF lSTR Identifiler detection system represents a powerful strategy for individual identification and parentage analysis in the Serbian population.

Bosnian population data for the 15 STR loci in the Power Plex 16 kit

The PowerPlex 16 amplification kit was used for the analysis of allele frequencies for the 15 STR loci (D3S1358, TH01, D21S11, D18S51, Penta E, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820, D16S539, CSF1PO, Penta D, VWA, D8S1179, TPOX and FGA) in unrelated, autochthonous healthy adults from Bosnia ( n=123 for TH01, Penta E, D16S539, CSF1PO, Penta D and TPOX, n=210 for D3S1358, D21S11, D18S51, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820, VWA, D8S1179 and FGA). The agreement with HWE was confirmed for all loci with the exception of Penta D (based on the chi(2)-test only). The combined power of discrimination (PD) and the combined power of exclusion (PE) for the 15 studied loci were 0.999999999999999997 and 0.999999, respectively.

A very long ACTBP2 (SE33) allele

Analysing a buccal swab we found a long allele in the STR system ACTBP2. For confirmation we sequenced the isolated PCR product and found a sequence structure common in alleles of type III. Based on the repeat array the new allele is assigned as allele "49".

Analysis of 15 short tandem repeats reveals significant differences between the Arabian populations from Morocco and Syria

The short tandem repeat (STR) systems D3S1358, TH01, D21S11, D18S51, Penta E, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820, D16S539, CSF1PO, Penta D, vWA, D8S1179, TPOX and FGA were studied in Arabian population samples from Morocco and Syria. No significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium could be observed in either preparation. Comparing the Moroccan and Syrian populations using the program RxC, no similarity could be observed at all 15 loci. In the Moroccan and Syrian populations the matching probability is 1 in 1.4 x 10(17) and 1 in 2.6 x 10(17), respectively. Thus, the combination of these 15 STR loci is powerful tool for forensic identification in Arabian populations.