Genetics and genomics of core short tandem repeat loci used in human identity testing

Over the past decade, the human identity testing community has settled on a set of core short tandem repeat (STR) loci that are widely used for DNA typing applications. A variety of commercial kits enable robust amplification of these core STR loci. A brief history is presented regarding the selection of core autosomal and Y-chromosomal STR markers. The physical location of each STR locus in the human genome is delineated and allele ranges and variants observed in human populations are summarized as are mutation rates observed from parentage testing. Internet resources for additional information on core STR loci are reviewed. Additional topics are also discussed, including potential linkage of STR loci to genetic disease-causing genes, probabilistic predictions of sample ethnicity, and desirable characteristics for additional STR loci that may be added in the future to the current core loci. These core STR loci, which form the basis for DNA databases worldwide, will continue to play an important role in forensic science for many years to come.     

Genetic structure among 38 populations from the United States based on 11 U.S. core Y chromosome STRs

A DNA database consisting of the 11 Y chromosome short-tandem-repeat (Y-STR) recommended by the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods is constructed for 2517 individuals from 38 populations in the United States. The population samples derive from five ethnic groups currently living in 10 states. A multidimensional scaling (MDS) plot places the populations into four discrete clusters (African Americans (AA), European Americans (EA), Hispanic Americans (HA), and Asian Americans (SA)) and one dispersed cluster of Native Americans. An analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicates that a large proportion of the total genetic variance is partitioned among ethnic groups (24.8%), whereas only a small amount (1.5%) is found among-populations within ethnic groups. Separate AMOVA analyses within each ethnic group show that only the NA sample contains statistically significant among-population variation. Pair wise population differentiation tests do uncover heterogeneity among EA and among HA populations; however, this is due to only a single sample within each group. The analyses support the creation of AA, EA, HA, and Asian American databases in which samples from different geographic regions within the United States are pooled. We recommend that separate databases be constructed for different NA groups.     

Y-chromosomal STR haplotypes in two endogamous tribal populations of Karnataka, India

POPULATION: Approximately 5.0 mL of blood sample was collected from a total of 150 men belonging to two tribal populations of coastal Uttar Kannada district of Karnataka, with their informed written consent. Both the populations are endogamous and they belong to the Dravidian linguistic family. Halakki is a tribal group having a population size of c. 3383. They claim that they originally belong to Gujarat and Rajasthan, and migrated through Andhra Pradesh to Karnataka. Kunabhi is also a tribal population, c. 35,214 in number. They were hunters and gatherers but presently they practice agriculture.     

人类D19S40基因座在不同人种中的遗传多态性研究

采用ＰＣＲ技术分析中国汉族、德国人、斯洛伐克人和美国黑人群体Ｄ１９Ｓ４００基因座的遗传多态性及世界三大人种之间的差异。四个群体共调查了６２０人,发现了１１个等位基因,观察到４７种基因型。各群体观察杂合度为：０．７８～０．８８,个人识别机率为：０．９３８５０～０．９６６４。四个群体基因型频率分布符合Ｈａｒｄｙ－Ｗｅｉｎｂｅｒｇ平衡（Ｐ＞０．０５）,三大人种（蒙古人种、高加索人种、美国黑人）之间Ｄ１９Ｓ４００基因座等位基因频率分布存在极显著差异（Ｐ＜０．０１）。结果显示Ｄ１９Ｓ４００基因座在群体遗传学研究和法医学个人识别中有较高应用价值     

Haplotype frequencies of eight Y-chromosome short tandem repeats loci in four Amerindian populations (state of Hidalgo, Mexico)

Population: Amerindian populations: Huastecos (n=97), Otomies de la Sierra (n=41), Otomies del Valle (n=40), and Tepehuas (n=13).     

Analysis of mutations in father–son pairs with 17 Y-STR loci

We have examined 389 father/son sample pairs from U.S. Caucasians, African Americans, Hispanics and Asians using the 17 Y-STR loci in the Yfiler™ kit and observed a total of 24 differences between father and son. Thirteen mutations resulted in the gain of a repeat in the son and 11 resulted in a loss of a repeat. All samples resulted in single repeat mutations except one sample which contained a two repeat loss at Y-GATA-H4. Furthermore, two different sample pairs were found to have two mutations. An African American sample pair had a mutation at DYS458 and a second at DYS635 and an Asian sample pair had mutations at DYS439 and Y-GATA-H4.     

Internal Validation of the AmpFlSTR Yfiler™ Amplification Kit for Use in Forensic Casework

Abstract:  Y-chromosomal short-tandem repeat (Y-STR) amplification has been used in forensic casework at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) Forensic Science Laboratory since 2003. At that time, two separate amplifications were required to type the SWGDAM recommended loci (DYS19, DYS385a/b, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS438, and DYS439). The Yfiler™ kit coamplifies these loci as well as DYS437, DYS448, DYS456, DYS458, DYS635, and Y GATA H4. The Yfiler™ kit was validated following the internal validations outlined in the SWGDAM revised validation guidelines. Our studies show that 0.125 ng of male DNA will generate a complete 17 locus profile and that as little as 0.06 ng of male DNA yields an average of nine loci. In the male–male mixtures, a complete profile from the minor component was detected up to 1:5 ratio; most of the alleles of the minor component were detected at a 1:10 ratio and more than half the alleles of the minor component were detected at a 1:20 ratio. Complete YSTR profiles were obtained when 500 pg male DNA was mixed with female DNA at ratios up to 1:1000. At ratios of 1:5000 and 1:10,000 (male DNA to female DNA) inhibition of the YSTR amplification was evident. The YSTR results obtained for the adjudicated case samples gave significantly more probative information than the autosomal results. Our studies demonstrate that the Yfiler™ kit is extremely sensitive, does not exhibit cross-reactivity with female DNA, successfully types male DNA in the presence of overwhelming amounts of female DNA and is successful in typing actual forensic samples from adjudicated cases.     

Characterization of deletions in the DYS385 flanking region and null alleles associated with AZFc microdeletions in Koreans

Eight DYS385 allele size discrepancies and six DYS448 null types were detected among 708 Korean men when results of three in-house multiplex short tandem repeat (STR) systems were compared. The systems included both ordinary and reduced size amplicons. Sequence analysis revealed deletion mutations at two sites upstream of the DYS385 core repeats and deletion of the entire DYS448 locus. At DYS385, allele size differences were one or two repeats and were dependent on the primer set used for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Location of the primer target sequence in a flanking region of the STR, distal or proximal to the deletion, determined allele size. Two widely used commercial kits amplify DYS385 so as to include the mutable sites. Arrangement analysis of sequence tagged sites demonstrated that the deletion patterns at DYS448 (and DYS464) were associated with arrangements of the azoospermia factor c gene (AZFc). The DYS448 deletion appears relatively frequent in Asians.     

Allele frequency distribution based on 17 STR markers in three major Dravidian linguistic populations of Andhra Pradesh, India

Allele frequencies for 15 tetranucleotides and 2 pentanucleotides repeat loci were determined in 317 unrelated, healthy individuals of Andhra Pradesh, India, belonging to three pre-dominant endogamous populations namely, Kappu Naidu, Kamma Chaudhary and Kapu Reddy. Adherence to the expectations of the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) was confirmed for all loci with few exceptions, which were not significant after applying Bonferroni's correction. Statistical parameters of forensic interest; observed heterozygosity, probability of homozygosity, probability of extact test, power of discrimination, match probability, polymorphism information content, power of exclusion and mean paternity index were determined for all loci. The present study reveals that Penta E and D2S1338 are the most informative loci in all the studied populations. The combined power of discrimination was greater than 0.976, whereas the cumulative power of exclusion gave an expected value of 0.9999 for all the tested microsatellite loci. No difference was observed in the discriminatory power of 15 loci in studied populations on comparison with other populations of India. Population differentiation tests revealed significant differences between the studied and neighboring populations at several loci. Analyzed parameters indicate the utility and efficacy of the studied 17 STR systems as a powerful tool in forensic human identification, paternity testing and human population genetic studies.     

Population data of 10 Y-chromosomal STR Loci in Cebu province, Central Visayas (Philippines)

Population: 103 unrelated male individuals from Cebu province, Central Visayas region of the Philippines.     

荧光复合扩增4个Y染色体STR的单倍型及其法医学应用

目的建立一套Y染色体STR的双色荧光复合扩增系统,调查4个Y-STR基因座单倍型分布情况及其在混合斑物证检验中的法医学应用前景。方法荧光标记引物复合扩增Y-GATA-A10、DYS531、DYS557和DYS448四个Y染色体特异性STR基因座,并用ABⅠ310遗传分析仪对扩增产物进行检测、分型。结果在成都汉族120名无关男性个体中,四个基因座分别检出5、5、8、7个等位基因,共检出78种单倍型,单倍型基因多样性为0.9881。对3例本教研室不能用常规常染色体STR对男性成份作出同一认定的混合斑检材,该系统成功的作出了与嫌疑人血液Y-STR基因型一致的鉴定结论。结论建立的Y-STR荧光标记复合扩增系统具有很高的识别能力,对建立Y染色体STR数据库,研究群体遗传学和进行法医学混合斑物证鉴定有重要意义。     

Analysis of Y-STR loci in a population sample from northeast China

POPULATION: A total of 141 unrelated Chinese Han male individuals living in Liaoning in northeast China.     

2个Y-STR基因座在成都汉族群体中的遗传学研究

目的　为了寻求新的适合于法医学应用的Y染色体STR基因座 ,我们调查了基因座DYS44 2和DYS44 6在成都群体中的分布。　方法　样本来自于成都地区汉族无血缘关系的个体 ,通过Chelex法提取样本DNA ,利用PCR扩增硝酸银染色方法进行分型。　结果　DYS44 2是一个四核苷酸简单重复基因座 ,而DYS44 6则为五核苷酸简单重复基因座。男性样本都出现了谱带 ,而女性样本则无PCR产物。DYS44 2基因座和DYS44 6基因座变异度分别为 :0 .6 86 7、0 .75 5 2。　结论　DYS44 2和DYS44 6是非常适合于法医学应用的STR基因座。     

Twelve-locus Y-STR haplotypes in the Flemish population

POPULATION: One hundred and thirteen unrelated Flemish men from Belgium.     

D8S384基因座的遗传多态性及其在法医物证检验中的应用

揭示人类自然群体中D8S384基因座的基因型频率,评估D8S384基因座在法医物证中的应用价值,以及建立D8S384基因座的分型方法。用不同基因型PCR产物混合的方法,制备了D8S384等位基因分型标准物,并按照国际法医血液遗传学会DNA委员会推荐的原则命名了等位基因。采用PCR扩增、电泳分析、银染显色的方法,调查了世界3大人种11个群体1103名个体的D8S384基因型。D8S384基因座共有8个等位基因,群体内基因型分布符合Hardy－Weinberg平衡,群体间基因型构成有显著性差异。利用群体数据估计了D8S384基因座的法医学理论应用价值,计算得出D8S384基因座的期望杂合度为0．704±0．014,个人识别机率为0．864。D8S384基因座是一个较好的法医学STR遗传标记。     

Y chromosome STR haplotypes and allele frequencies in Illinois Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic males

POPULATION: Population: Illinois Caucasian ( n =117), Illinois African American ( n =218), and Illinois Hispanic ( n =68).     

中国5个群体D20S85基因座的遗传多态性

目的 了解中国5个群体D20S85基因座的群体遗传学数据,比较它们之间的遗传学差异,探讨其在法医学应用中的意义。方法 分别收集5个群体622名无关个体的血样,Chelex-100快速抽提法或饱和酚/氯仿法抽提DNA;扩增后经PAGE垂直板电泳、银染,进行D20S85基因座分型。结果 在5个群体622名无关个体中,共检出9个等位基因,并首次在广东汉族和广西壮族群体中检出等位基因14;每个群体基因频率大于0.05的均为6个,D20S85*6为最常见等位基因。5个群体共观察到35种基因型,群体内基因型频率分布均符合Hardy-Weinberg氏平衡,各群体间基因型构成比无显著性差异。观察140次减数分裂未发现突变。各群体的期望杂合度为0.7720～0.7912;非父排除率,在三联体为0.7538～0.7594,二联体为0.3988～0.4297;个人识别率为0.9175～0,9272;多态信息含量为0.7442～0.7656。应用于亲子鉴定和个人识别案例,效果满意。结论 D20S85基因座是法医学应用价值较高的遗传标记系统。     

Development and validation of the AmpFlSTR Yfiler PCR amplification kit: a male specific, single amplification 17 Y-STR multiplex system

In the past 5 years, there has been a substantial increase in the use of Y-short tandem repeat loci (Y-STRs) in forensic laboratories, especially in cases where typing autosomal STRs has met with limited success. The AmpFlSTR Yfiler PCR amplification kit simultaneously amplifies 17 Y-STR loci including the loci in the "European minimal haplotype" (DYS19, DYS385a/b, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, and DYS393), the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM) recommended Y-STR loci (DYS438 and DYS439), and the highly polymorphic loci DYS437, DYS448, DYS456, DYS458, Y GATA H4, and DYS635 (formerly known as Y GATA C4). The Yfiler kit was validated according to the FBI/National Standards and SWGDAM guidelines. Our results showed that full profiles are attainable with low levels of male DNA (below 125 pg) and that under optimized conditions, no detectable cross-reactive products were obtained on human female DNA, bacteria, and commonly encountered animal species. Additionally, we demonstrated the ability to detect male specific profiles in admixed male and female blood samples at a ratio of 1:1000.