Analysis of 12 X-STR loci in the population of south Croatia

The aim of the study was to assess forensic pertinence of 12 short tandem repeats (STRs) on X-chromosome in south Croatia population. Investigator^® Argus X-12 kit was used to co-amplify 12 STR loci belonging to four linkage groups (LGs) on X-chromosome in 99 male and 98 female DNA samples of unrelated donors. PCR products were analyzed by capillary electrophoresis. Population genetic and forensic parameters were calculated by the Arlequin and POPTREE2 software, and an on-line tool available at ChrX-STR.org. Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium was confirmed for all X-STR markers in female samples. Biallelic patterns at DXS10079 locus were detected in four male samples. Polymorphism information content for the most (DXS10135) and the least (DXS8378) informative markers was 0.9212 and 0.6347, respectively. In both male and female samples, combined power of discrimination exceeded 0.999999999. As confirmed by linkage disequilibrium test, significant association of marker pair DXS10074-DXS10079 (P?=?0.0004) within LG2 and marker pair DXS10101-DXS10103 (P?=?0.0003) within LG3 was found only in male samples. Number of observed haplotypes in our sample pool amounted 3.01, 7.53, 5 and 3.25% of the number of possible haplotypes for LG1, LG2, LG3 and LG4, respectively. According to haplotype diversity value of 0.9981, LG1 was the most informative. In comparison of south Croatia with 26 world populations, pair-wise \({{\text{F}}_{\text{ST}}}^{\text{*}}\) values increase in parallel with geographical distance. Overall statistical assessment confirmed suitability of Investigator^® Argus X-12 kit for forensic casework in both identification and familial testing in the population of south Croatia.     

Population genetic study of four closely-linked X-STR trios in Koreans

We investigated four X chromosomal short tandem repeat (X-STR) markers (DXS10079, DXS10103, DXS10146, and DXS10148) in 450 unrelated Koreans (300 males and 150 females), and evaluated their forensic usage in relation to the four X-STR linkage groups. Forensic statistical parameters for these X-STR markers indicated that they are highly informative for forensic application in Koreans. No significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were observed in any of the four X-STR markers. In addition, we present haplotypes and their frequency data for four linkage groups each comprised of three X-STRs (DXS10148-DXS10135-DXS8378, DXS7132-DXS10079-DXS10074, DXS10103-HPRTB-DXS10101, and DXS10146-DXS10134-DXS7423) in 300 males. Haplotype diversity values in the four linkage trios were all higher than 0.98, and 77.1% of all haplotypes showed a frequency less than 0.01. Therefore, the four closely-linked X-STR trios will contribute to complex kinship testing in Koreans.     

Development of three X-linked tetrameric microsatellite markers for forensic purposes

In this study, we obtained sequence and population genetic data for three X-linked short tandem repeat markers (X-STRs; DXS7129, DXS2500, G10583). We investigated their population genetics and estimated their forensic parameters in 214 healthy unrelated individuals from the Han population of Northern China (105 males and 109 females). We showed that DXS2500 and G10583 were highly polymorphic and thus have potential for application in forensic medicine. We also estimated the overall linkage disequilibrium between pairs of loci, specific multiallelic or interallelic associations, and haplotype frequencies in males. We showed that the three X-STR loci segregate as stable haplotype blocks; this could be a powerful tool for haplotype analysis in kinship testing.     

DXS6804/DXS9896/GATA144D04基因座在中国汉族群体中的遗传多态性及其法医学应用Genetic

为了调查X染色体上DXS6804、DXS9896和 GATA144D04等3个STR基因座在中国汉族群体的遗传多态性及其法医学应用价值,来用PCR和聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳对X染色体3个STR基因座进行分型,并检验女性基因型频率分布是否符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡,计算法医学常用各种概率。DXS6804、DXS9896和 GATA144D04的非父排除率分别为0.5990、0.6220、0.4280,表明3个STR基因座在中国汉族群体均具有遗传多态性,χ2检验表明女性的基因型频率分布符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡。X染色体上的基因座DXS6804、DXS9896和 GATA144D04在中国汉族群体中具有较高的遗传多态性,可应用于法医学检验和群体遗传学分析。 Abstract： To investigate the genetic polymorphisms of three short tandem repeats loci of chromosome X in Chinese Han population in Chengdu area and its use in forensic science. Three X-chromosome linked short tandom repeat loci were analyzed by PCR followed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was tested and forensic interested value was calculated .The power of exlcution of DXS6804、DXS9896和 GATA144D04 is 0.5990、0.6220、0.4280,respectively. The result showed that all the three STR loci were polymorphic among 100 unrelated females and 120 unrelated males from Chinese Han population. χ2 tests demonstrated that genotype frequencies in females did not depart from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Three X-chromosome linked short tandem repeat loci have high polymorphism, they can be applied to forensic medicine and population genetics.     

Genetic polymorphisms of nine X-STR loci in four population groups from Inner Mongolia, China

Nine short tandem repeat （STR） markers on the X chromosome （DXS101, DXS6789, DXS6799, DXS6804, DXST132, DXST133, DXS7423, DXS8378, and HPRTB） were analyzed in four population groups （Mongol, Ewenki, Oroqen, and Daur） from Inner Mongolia, China, in order to learn about the genetic diversity, forensic suitability, and possible genetic affinities of the populations. Frequency estimates, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, and other parameters of forensic interest were computed. The results revealed that the nine markers have a moderate degree of variability in the population groups. Most heterozygosity values for the nine loci range from 0.480 to 0.891, and there are evident differences of genetic variability among the populations. A UPGMA tree constructed on the basis of the generated data shows very low genetic distance betweent Mongol and Han （Xi＇an） populations. Our results based on genetic distance analysis are consistent with the results of earlier studies based on linguistics and the immigration history and origin of these populations. The minisatellite loci on the X chromosome studied here are not only useful in showing significant genetic variation between the populations, but also are suitable for human identity testing among Inner Mongolian populations.     

Genetic structure of the population of Cabo Verde (West Africa): Evidence of substantial european admixture

The population of Cabo Verde was founded in the fifteenth century (1462), on the basis of slaves brought from the West African coast and a few Europeans, mainly from Portugal. The polymorphism of six red cell enzymes (ADA, AK1, ALAD, ESD, GLO1, and PGD) and ten plasma proteins (AHSG, BF, F13A, F13B, GC, HP, ORM, PLG, TBG, and TF) was studied in a sample of 268 individuals from Cabo Verde (West Africa). There is no statistical evidence of genetic heterogeneity between the two groups of islands which constitute the archipelago, Barlavento and Sotavento. The gene frequency distribution observed in Cabo Verde differs, in many markers, from that of West African populations, suggesting an important European influence. The proportion of Caucasian genes in the population of Cabo Verde has been calculated to be M = 0.3634 ± 0.0510, and the considerable dispersion of the locus-specific admixture estimates seems to indicate random drift has also played a role in the evolution of the allele frequencies in the archipelago. Partition of the variance of the mean estimate in evolutionary and sampling variance shows the evolutionary variance is more than ten times higher than the sampling variance. When dendrograms are constructed on the basis of different genetic distances, the population of Cabo Verde clusters with Afro-Americans, forming a different group from the populations of the African continent. This is interpreted as a consequence of the importance of Caucasian admixture both in Afro-Americans and in the population of Cabo Verde. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Genetic polymorphisms of 12 X-STR for forensic purposes in Shanghai Han population from China

X-chromosomal short tandem repeats (X-STR) loci are used for forensic practice in recent years in some complex kinship cases. The commercially available kit of Investigator Argus X-12 (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) makes it possible to examine the markers of DXS10148–DXS10135–DXS8378, DXS7132–DXS10079–DXS10074, DXS10103–HPRTB–DXS10101 and DXS10146–DXS10134–DXS7423, which belong to four linkage groups of X-chromosome. In this study, a total of 309 unrelated individuals (200 males and 109 females) from Shanghai Han population were successfully analyzed with this kit. Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium tests demonstrated no significant deviation from expected values (P > 0.05) for all of the 12 X-STR loci in the Shanghai Han population. Linkage disequilibrium tests were performed for all pairs of loci by the Arlequin v3.1 software and only DXS10103–DXS10101 remained significant after adjustment for multiple testing (P < 0.05/66). The combined power of discrimination in males (CDP_M) was 0.999999996 while in females (CDP_F) was 0.999999999999995, and the combined mean exclusion chance in duo cases (CMEC_D) was 0.999998 while in trio cases (CMEC_T) was 0.999999986. The results suggest that the twelve X-STR loci may provide high polymorphic information for paternity testing and forensic identification in Chinese Han population from Shanghai.     

云南纳西族10个X-STR基因座遗传多态性研究

为研究云南纳西族人群10个位于X染色体的短串联重复序列基因座及单倍型的遗传多态性, 采用PCR扩增, 变性聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳结合银染显色分型技术, 对98名云南纳西族无关男性个体X染色体的10个STR基因座进行基因分型。结果显示, 98名无关男性个体中, DXS7423、DXS7424、DXS6799、DXS7133、DXS6804、DXS8378、HPRTB、DXS7130、DXS7132 和DXS6789分别检出4、7、6、3、6、5、5、7、6和8个等位基因, 等位基因频率分布在0.0102(DXS7132、DXS6789)~0.7347(DXS7133)之间。由DXS8378与DXS7130基因座组成的单倍型共检出20种, 由DXS6789、DXS6799和DXS7424基因座组成的单倍型共检出56种, 单倍型多样性分别为0.8553和0.9649, 说明所选的10个X-STR位点有较高的多态性信息, 在基因组多样性研究、法医学个体识别、亲权鉴定中具有重要应用价值。     

Cancerous tissues in forensic genetic analysis

Microsatellites or short tandem repeats (STRs) markers are important tools for mapping disease-causing genes by linkage, for performing investigations in forensic medicine, for population genetic studies and for studying genetic modifications in tumors. In forensic applications neoplastic tissues can be used as a source of genetic information for personal identification or paternity testing when no other specimen is available. Cancer tissues can show microsatellite instability (MSI) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) also for the STRs used in the forensic field. In this study, we screened 56 sporadic gastrointestinal carcinomas in order to provide further data for the evaluation of the incidence of allelic alterations for 15 STR loci and the suitability of using cancerous tissues in forensic applications. Sixty-six percent of the cancerous tissues were found to possess allelic alterations of the microsatellites analyzed with a high incidence of MSI-L (microsatellite instability low) when compared to the corresponding normal tissue. The most frequently altered loci were D18S51, VWA, and FGA. From a forensic perspective, great care must be taken in evaluating the DNA typing results obtained from cancerous tissue samples.     

Genetic polymorphisms of 10 X-STR among four ethnic populations in northwest of China

In the present study, 10 short tandem repeats (STR) (HPRTB, DXS6789, DXS6799, DXS6804, DXS7130, DXS7132, DXS7133, DXS7423, DXS7424, and DXS8378) on X chromosome were investigated among four ethnic populations (431 individuals) in northwest of China, in order to learn about the genetic diversity, forensic suitability, and possible genetic affinities of the populations. The polymorphism information content (PIC) values for the ten loci range from 0.340 to 0.810, and the observed heterozygosity values for the ten loci range from 0.397 to 0.860, the results indicated that the ten loci have a moderate degree of variability in the four populations, and each population has its own characteristics of genetic structure. A Neighbor-joining (NJ) tree constructed on the basis of the generated data shows very low genetic distance between Han, Mongolian and Tibetan, Dongxiang and Tu as well as between Salar and Bonan populations. Our results based on genetic distance analysis are consistent with the results of earlier studies based on linguistics and the immigration history and origin of these populations. These STR loci on the X chromosome studied here are not only useful in showing significant genetic variation between the populations, but also are suitable for human identity testing among the four populations.     

Genetic analysis of the 10 ChrX STRs loci in Chinese Han nationality from Guangdong province

This study is to explore the polymorphic nature of X-Chromosome short tandem repeats (ChrX STRs) loci, and to determine its application in kinship tests for forensic cases. A new fluorescent multiplex PCR that simultaneously amplifies the 10 ChX STRs loci in the same PCR reaction had been set up. DXS7132, DXS981, DXS6801, DXS6809, DXS6789, DXS7424, DXS101, DXS7133, GATA165B12 and GATA31E08 were analyzed in a sample of 511 (399 males and 112 females) unrelated individuals from Guangdong Han nationality in China. One hundred and one alleles were observed in all the loci. Here, we investigated the allele frequencies and mutation rates of the ten loci, and then made the comparison of allele frequencies distribution among different populations. The results show the ten loci in the multiplex systems may provide high polymorphism information for kinship testing and relationship investigations, and it is necessary to gain allele frequency and mutation rate of different population for forensic application.     

Human Neutral Genetic Variation and Forensic STR Data

The forensic genetics field is generating extensive population data on polymorphism of short tandem repeats (STR) markers in globally distributed samples. In this study we explored and quantified the informative power of these datasets to address issues related to human evolution and diversity, by using two online resources: an allele frequency dataset representing 141 populations summing up to almost 26 thousand individuals; a genotype dataset consisting of 42 populations and more than 11 thousand individuals. We show that the genetic relationships between populations based on forensic STRs are best explained by geography, as observed when analysing other worldwide datasets generated specifically to study human diversity. However, the global level of genetic differentiation between populations (as measured by a fixation index) is about half the value estimated with those other datasets, which contain a much higher number of markers but much less individuals. We suggest that the main factor explaining this difference is an ascertainment bias in forensics data resulting from the choice of markers for individual identification. We show that this choice results in average low variance of heterozygosity across world regions, and hence in low differentiation among populations. Thus, the forensic genetic markers currently produced for the purpose of individual assignment and identification allow the detection of the patterns of neutral genetic structure that characterize the human population but they do underestimate the levels of this genetic structure compared to the datasets of STRs (or other kinds of markers) generated specifically to study the diversity of human populations.     

Genetic data provided by 21 autosomal STR loci from Chinese Tujia ethnic group

The aim of this study was to investigate allelic frequency distribution and forensic genetic parameters of autosomal short tandem repeats (STR) loci of the population samples from 107 Tujia individuals from Chinese Hubei Province. Twenty-one autosomal STR genetic markers (D9S1122, D6S474, D6S1017, D5S2500, D4S2408, D3S4529, D2S441, D2S1776, D22S1045, D20S482, D1S1677, D1S1627, D1GATA113, D19S433, D18S853, D17S1301, D11S4463, D12ATA63, D10S1248, D10S1435 and D14S1434) were simultaneously amplified in a new multiplex polymerase chain reaction system. 155 alleles for all the STR loci from the Tujia population were observed and the corresponding allelic frequencies ranged from 0.005 to 0.589. Expected heterozygosity, polymorphic information content, power of discrimination and power of exclusion of the 21 STR loci in the Tujia population were from 0.579 to 0.824, from 0.525 to 0.802, from 0.773 to 0.945 and from 0.257 to 0.641, respectively. Our results indicate that the autosomal STRs multiplex system provides highly informative STR data and could be useful in forensic individual identification and parentage testing in this region.     

Development of pentaplex PCR and genetic analysis of X chromosomal STRs in Punjabi population of Pakistan

The X-STRs are important tools in forensic application, particularly in complex cases of kinship testing. In deficiency paternity testing when alleged father cannot be typed, investigation of X-STR markers yields the desired information. Blood samples were collected from unrelated individual (118 females and 94 males) and 84 trios families (father, mother and daughter). DNA extraction from whole blood was performed with Phenol chloroform method. Five X-linked STR markers DXS6800, DXS7133, DXS6797, DXS981 and GATA165B12 were selected. The amplicons were analyzed through ABI 3100 Genetic Analyzer. Pentaplex PCR system was developed for multilocus amplification at the same time. For each locus 4–9 alleles were noted. Altogether, 32 alleles were observed from five markers. Eighty-four trios families were analysed to check the mutation rate and no mutation was observed. Stutter peaks were observed maximum at locus DXS6797 (12.44%) while the minimum at locus DXS7133 (4.5%). For sensitivity study, amplification of X chromosomal short tandem repeats loci was successfully performed using 0.15 ng quantity of DNA as template. In conclusion; this pentaplex represents a convenient method to study X chromosome markers. It works with reasonable amounts of DNA and is suitable for paternity cases.     

Linkage relationships and gene order around the locus for X-linked retinoschisis.

X-linked recessive retinoschisis (RS) is a hereditary disorder with variable clinical features. The main symptoms are poor sight; radial, cystic macula degeneration; and peripheral superficial retinal detachment. The disease is quite common in Finland, where at least 300 hemizygous males have been diagnosed. We used nine polymorphic DNA markers to study the localization of RS on the short arm of the X chromosome in 31 families comprising 88 affected persons. Two-point linkage results confirmed close linkage of the RS gene to the marker loci DXS43, DXS16, DXS207, and DXS41 and also revealed close linkage to the marker loci DXS197 and DXS9. Only one recombination was observed between DXS43 and RS in 59 informative meioses, giving a maximum lod score of 13.87 at the recombination fraction .02. No recombinations were observed between the RS locus and DXS9 and DXS197 (lods between 3 and 4), but at neither locus was the number of informative meioses sufficient to provide reliable estimates of recombination fractions. The most likely gene order on the basis of multilocus analysis was Xpter-DXS85-(DXS207,DXS43)-RS-DXS41-DXS 164-Xcen. Because multilocus linkage analysis indicated that the most probable location of RS is proximal to DXS207 and DXS43 and distal to DXS41, these three flanking markers are the closest and most informative markers currently available for carrier detection.     

Germ-line mosaicism simulates genetic heterogeneity in Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (IMD2) is an X-linked recessive immunodeficiency. Initial linkage studies mapped the disease locus on the proximal short arm of the X chromosome, a localization which was further refined to the interval framed by DXS7 and DXS14. We have recently shown that a novel hypervariable locus, DXS255, is very closely linked to the disease gene and is likely to be, at present, the marker closest to the disease gene. The analysis of one family, however, displayed conflicting linkage results, as all of the informative markers situated in the Xp11-q22 region appeared to recombine with the disease locus in two "phase-known" meioses. We have shown by X-inactivation studies that the segregation of the disease through three obligate carrier females in this family originates from a grandpaternal mosaicism, which accounts for the apparent recombinations. This shows that germ-line mosaicism can simulate genetic heterogeneity in linkage studies.     

北京汉族群体39个短串联重复序列基因座多态性及其遗传关系

本文首次对北京地区汉族人群的13个CODIS(Combined DNA index system)和26个非CODIS系统STR基因座的遗传多态性进行了研究,建立了北京地区汉族人群39个STR基因座的群体遗传多态性数据库并对其法医学应用价值进行了评价。39个STR基因座的基因型分布均符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡且各基因座之间均不存在连锁现象,个体鉴别力(Power of discrimination, DP)在0.7740~0.9818之间,期望杂合度(Expected heterozygosity, He)在0.6000~0.9350之间,多态性信息含量(Polymorphism information content, PIC)在0.5317~0.9047之间,非父排除率(Power of exclusion, PE)在0.2909~0.8673之间,累积个体鉴别力(Cumulative probability of discrimination, CDP)为0.999999999999999999999999999999999999999964971,累积非父排除率(Cumulative probability of exclusion, CPE)为0.999999999973878。另外,结合已公开报道的国内其他11个群体相应基因座的遗传资料,根据等位基因频率计算遗传距离,构建了系统发生树。本研究可为中国法医DNA数据库和群体遗传学数据库提供重要的基础数据,对北京地区汉族人群开展法医学个体识别、亲权鉴定和遗传学研究具有重要的意义。     

中国甘肃裕固族X-STR遗传多态性及其应用研究

为研究中国甘肃裕固族人群X染色体STR基因座的遗传多态性及其在群体遗传学中的应用, 采用PCR扩增, 变性聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳结合银染显带技术, 检测120名(女55, 男65)裕固族无关个体9个X-STR基因座(DXS7130、DXS7132、DXS6804、DXS7423、DXS7424、DXS6789、DXS6799、DXS8378和HPRTB)的等位基因频率及基因型分布, 以及存在连锁的X-STR基因座的单体型多态性; 同时, 利用X-STR构建系统发生树和进行聚类分析, 分析裕固族与我国其他民族的群体遗传关系。结果发现, DXS7130、DXS7132、DXS6804、DXS7423、DXS7424、DXS6789、DXS6799、DXS8378和HPRTB基因座分别检出8、6、6、5、6、7、6、4、6个等位基因和16、14、13、6、13、20、11、6、12种基因型, 9个X-STR基因座女性的基因型频率分布均符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡(P>0.05)。由DXS7130和DXS8378基因座组成的单体型共检出15种, 由DXS6789、DXS6799、DXS7424和DXS6804基因座组成的单体型共检出55种, 单体型多样性分别为0.8212和0.9947。群体遗传多态性指标显示上述9个X-STR基因座均具有较高多态性, 在法医学个体识别、亲权鉴定及群体遗传学研究中有重要应用价值。对裕固族与我国其他民族群体遗传关系的研究结果显示, 裕固族与蒙古族及同处西北的汉族、藏族关系较近, 而与回族、维族关系较远, 提示裕固族是一个在起源上与蒙古族、汉族以及藏族关系密切的民族群体。     

Phylogeography of a Marine Insular Endemic in the Atlantic Macaronesia: The Azorean Barnacle,Megabalanus azoricus (Pilsbry, 1916)

The Azorean barnacle, Megabalanus azoricus (Pilsbry, 1916), is a Macaronesian endemic whose obscure taxonomy and the unknown relationships among forms inhabiting isolated Northern Atlantic oceanic islands is investigated by means of molecular analysis herein. Mitochondrial data from the 16S rRNA and COX1 genes support its current species status, tropical ancestry, and the taxonomic homogeneity throughout its distribution range. In contrast, at the intraspecific level and based on control region sequences, we detected an overall low level of genetic diversity and three divergent lineages. The haplogroups α and γ were sampled in the Azores, Madeira, Canary, and Cabo Verde archipelagos; whereas haplogroup β was absent from Cabo Verde. Consequently, population analysis suggested a differentiation of the Cabo Verde population with respect to the genetically homogenous northern archipelagos generated by current oceanographic barriers. Furthermore, haplogroup α, β, and γ demographic expansions occurred during the interglacial periods MIS5 (130 Kya - thousands years ago -), MIS3 (60 Kya), and MIS7 (240 Kya), respectively. The evolutionary origin of these lineages is related to its survival in the stable southern refugia and its demographic expansion dynamics are associated with the glacial-interglacial cycles. This phylogeographic pattern suggests the occurrence of genetic discontinuity informative to the delimitation of an informally defined biogeographic entity, Macaronesia, and its generation by processes that delineate genetic diversity of marine taxa in this area.     

Population genetic data and forensic parameters of 30 autosomal InDel markers in Santa Catarina State population,Southern Brazil

The application of DNA technology in forensic investigations has grown rapidly in the last 25 years and with an exponential increase of short tandem repeats (STRs) data, usually presented as allele frequencies, that may be later used as databases for forensic and population genetics purposes. Thereby, classes of molecular markers such as single nucleotide polymorphisms and insertions/deletions (InDels) have been presented as another option of genetic marker sets. These markers can be used in paternity cases, when mutations in STR polymorphisms are present, as well as in highly degraded DNA analysis. In the present study, the allele frequencies and heterozygosity (H) of a 30 InDel markers set were determined and the forensic efficacy was evaluated through estimation of discrimination power (DP), match probability, typical paternity index and power of paternity exclusion in 108 unrelated volunteers from the State of Santa Catarina (South Brazil). The observed H per locus showed a range between 0.370 and 0.574 (mean = 0.479). HLD128 was the locus with the highest DP (DP = 0.656). DP for all markers combined was greater than 99.9999999999646 % which provides satisfactory levels of information for forensic demands. Genetic comparisons (exact tests of population differentiation and pairwise genetic distances) revealed that the population of Santa Catarina State differs from Korea and USA Afro-American populations but is similar to the Portuguese, German, Polish, Spanish and Basque populations.