Allele frequency of VNTR locus D1S80 observed in Hb D-Los Angeles carrires

One of our previous studies presented the allele frequencies of D1S80 VNTR locus in province Denizli including the high frequencies of allele 24 and 18. In Denizli province of Turkey, the most common abnormal variant is Hb D-Los Angeles with a frequency of 57.8?% of the total abnormal Hbs. The aim of this study is to identify the allele frequencies of D1S80 VNTR locus in Hb D-Los Angeles carriers in Denizli province of Turkey. We studied unrelated 36 Hb D-Los Angeles carriers residing in Denizli province of Turkey. The size range of the D1S80 VNTR locus PCR products was determined first by agarose gel electrophoresis and then by a capillary electrophoresis system. For all subjects, DNA sequencing was performed. Allele frequency, theta (k) value, and observed and expected heterozygosity were calculated using Arlequin Software version 3.11. The most common alleles were the 24 (32?%), 18 (18.1?%) and 29 (16.7?%) alleles, and frequencies of these alleles were 0.329, 0.186 and 0.171 respectively. Other observed alleles percentages were 33, 2?%. We did not observe alleles 6, 15, 27 and 35, but we observed alleles 20 and 33. Results were in Hardy–Weinberg linkage disequilibrium. Observed heterozygosity was 0.889, and expected heterozygosity was 0.847. Theta (k) value was 4.91 (95?% confidence interval limits). According to our results, we concluded that Hb D-Los Angeles carriers have different allele frequencies in D1S80 VNTR and also have their own D1S80 VNTR locus divergence.     

北京地区汉族群体D1S1612和D18S535基因座的遗传多态性

采用扩增片段长度多态性（Amp-FLP）分型技术,调查中国北京地区汉族群体D1S1612、D18S535 基因座的遗传多态性,获得等位基因频率分布。结果显示, D1S1612检出9个等位基因,25种基因型, D18S535检出9个等位基因,27种基因型。两个STR基因座的杂和度（H）分别为0.779、0.887;个人识别率（Dp）分别为0.901、0.927;非父排除率（PE）分别为0.564、0.770;多态信息容量（PIC）分别为0.723、0.796,卡方检验表明两个STR 基因座基因型频率分布符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡 (P>0.01 )。D1S1612和D18S535 基因座均属高杂合度、高识别能力的遗传标记,可用于法庭科学亲子鉴定和个人识别。 Abstract: To investigate the genetic polymorphism of D1S1612 and D18S535 in Han population of Beijing. Amp-FLP method was used. 9 alleles, 25 genotypes were observed for D1S1612 locus; and 9 alleles and 27 genotypes for D18S535 locus. All allele frequencies, heterozygosity (H), discrimination power (Dp), exclusion of paternity probability (PE) and polymorphism information content (PIC) were calculated. The allele distributions of the two loci were conformed to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P>0.01). According to the results obtained in this study, it is suggested that both D1S1612 and D18S535 are useful genetic markers for individual identification and paternity testing in forensic science practice as well for genetic study.     

PCR amplification of alleles at the DIS80 locus: comparison of a Finnish and a North American Caucasian population sample, and forensic casework evaluation.

Allele and genotype frequencies for the highly polymorphic D1S80 locus were determined in a Finnish population sample by using PCR followed by high-resolution PAGE and silver staining, a procedure called the amplified-fragment-length polymorphism (Amp-FLP) technique. In 140 unrelated Finnish individuals 15 alleles and 43 phenotypes were observed. The D1S80 locus demonstrated a heterozygosity of .77, and the power of discrimination was .92 in this sample representing a genetically isolated Finnish population. The distribution of observed genotypes conformed to Hardy-Weinberg expectations. In 36 mother-child pairs Mendelian inheritance for the alleles at the D1S80 locus could be demonstrated in all cases, and no mutations were observed. The usefulness of the D1S80 locus for forensic casework was assessed by using Amp-FLP analysis of the D1S80 locus in 36 forensic cases including 18 rapes, 14 homicides, and 4 other violent crimes. In most cases valuable information was obtained using the Amp-FLP technique, and in no case was there indication of either false-positive or false-negative results.     

Analysis of the VNTR locus D1S80 by the PCR followed by high-resolution PAGE.

Allelic data for the D1S80 locus was obtained by using the PCR and subsequent analysis with a high-resolution, horizontal PAGE technique and silver staining. Compared with RFLP analysis of VNTR loci by Southern blotting, the approach described in this paper offers certain advantages: (1) discrete allele resolution, (2) minimal measurement error, (3) correct genotyping of single-band VNTR patterns, (4) a nonisotopic assay, (5) a permanent record of the electrophoretic separation, and (6) reduced assay time. In a sample of 99 unrelated Caucasians, the D1S80 locus demonstrated a heterozygosity of 80.8% with 37 phenotypes and 16 alleles. The distribution of genotypes is in agreement with expected values according to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Furthermore, the observed number of alleles and the level of heterozygosity, obtained through the protocol described here, were congruent with each other in accordance with the expectation of a mutation-drift equilibrium model for a single, homogeneous, random-mating population. Therefore, the analysis of D1S80 and similar VNTR loci by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AMP-FLP) may prove useful as models for population genetic issues for VNTR loci analyzed by RFLP typing via Southern blotting.     

A population genetic study of six VNTR loci in three ethnically defined populations.

To investigate the population genetic characteristics of VNTR polymorphisms in human populations, we have studied the allele frequency distribution of six VNTR loci (D1S57, RB1, D1S77, D1S61, alpha-globin 5'HVR, D1S76) in three well-defined populations (Kachari of Northeast India; Dogrib Indian of Canada; and New Guinea Highlander of Papua New Guinea). Even though the number of alleles sampled is limited, 48 to 92 alleles per locus per population, significant variation is noticed in the number of alleles per locus for all the populations. Using alternate summary measures, we have observed that genotype distributions at the six VNTR loci apparently conform to their respective Hardy-Weinberg predictions. Multilocus genotype profiles of the individuals in each of the three populations suggest that the VNTR alleles are independently segregating with the exception of the two linked loci D1S76 and D1S77. Lack of fit of all VNTR loci to one particular model of mutational change, either the Infinite Allele Model or the Stepwise Mutation Model, suggests more than one mechanism for production of new VNTR alleles. This study also indicates that increased heterozygosity at VNTR loci in comparison to protein and blood group loci may lead to more accurate estimates of genetic distance.     

江浙沪和哈尔滨地区汉族D17S30位点的多态性分布

Ｄ１７Ｓ３０是位于人类染色体１７ｄ１３．３、以７０ｂｐ为重复单位的,具有高度多态性的ＶＮＴＲ位点,本文采用作者报道的微量快速Ａｍｐ－ＦＬＰ分型技术,对１００名哈尔滨市北方汉族人和１１０名江浙沪南方汉族人作了Ｄ１７Ｓ３０位点分型,发现在北方汉族与江浙沪南方汉族之间等位基因频率分布并无显著差异,但可见Ａ１和Ａ７基因频率北高南低,Ａ４基因频率则为南高北代,提示存在南北汉族之间的分化。Ｄ１７Ｓ３０位点南北     

Short alleles revealed by PCR demonstrate no heterozygote deficiency at minisatellite loci D1S7, D7S21, and D12S11.

Short VNTR alleles that go undetected after conventional Southern blot hybridization may constitute an alternative explanation for the heterozygosity deficiency observed at some minisatellite loci. To examine this hypothesis, we have employed a screening procedure based on PCR amplification of those individuals classified as homozygotes in our databases for the loci D1S7, D7S21, and D12S11. The results obtained indicate that the frequency of these short alleles is related to the heterozygosity deficiency observed. For the most polymorphic locus, D1S7, approximately 60% of those individuals previously classified as homozygotes were in fact heterozygotes for a short allele. After the inclusion of these new alleles, the agreement between observed and expected heterozygosity, along with other statistical tests employed, provide additional evidence for lack of population substructuring. Comparisons of allele frequency distributions reveal greater differences between racial groups than between closely related populations.     

用DNA多态性分析福建,江西和浙江3省畲族的亲缘关系

为分析福建,江西和浙江３省畲族之间的关系,用聚合酶链反应（ＰＣＲ）对上述３省的３代均为畲族的无关个体的载脂蛋白Ｂ基因和Ｄ１７Ｓ３０位点的数目可变的串联重复（ＶＮＴＲ）序列进行研究。结果为：６个共有的ａｐｏＢ ＶＮＴＲ和５个共有的Ｄ１７Ｓ３０ ＶＮＴＲ等位基因在３省畲族中的分布相同,为进一步在基因水下上研究它们的亲缘关系奠定了基础。本文报道的检测ＤＮＡ多态性的方法在研究民族起源,变迁和民族识别以及各     

Ethnic differentiation at VNTR loci, with special reference to forensic applications.

Allele-rich VNTR loci provide valuable information for forensic inference. Interpretation of this information is complicated by measurement error, which renders discrete alleles difficult to distinguish. Two methods have been used to circumvent this difficulty--i.e., binning methods and direct evaluation of allele frequencies, the latter achieved by modeling the data as a mixture distribution. We use this modeling approach to estimate the allele frequency distributions for two loci--D17S79 and D2S44--for black, Caucasian, and Hispanic samples from the Lifecodes and FBI data bases. The data bases are differentiated by the restriction enzyme used: PstI (Lifecodes) and HaeIII (FBI). Our results show that alleles common in one ethnic group are almost always common in all ethnic groups, and likewise for rare alleles; this pattern holds for both loci. Gene diversity, or heterozygosity, measured as one minus the sum of the squared allele frequencies, is greater for D2S44 than for D17S79, in both data bases. The average gene diversity across ethnic groups when PstI (HaeIII) is used is .918 (.918) for D17S79 and is .985 (.983) for D2S44. The variance in gene diversity among ethnic groups is greater for D17S79 than for D2S44. The number of alleles, like the gene diversity, is greater for D2S44 than for D17S79. The mean numbers of alleles across ethnic groups, estimated from the PstI (HaeIII) data, are 40.25 (41.5) for D17S79 and 104 (103) for D2S44. The number of alleles is correlated with sample size. We use the estimated allele frequency distributions for each ethnic group to explore the effects of unwittingly mixing populations and thereby violating independence assumptions. We show that, even in extreme cases of mixture, the estimated genotype probabilities are good estimates of the true probabilities, contradicting recent claims. Because the binning methods currently used for forensic inference show even less differentiation among ethnic groups, we conclude that mixture has little or no impact on the use of VNTR loci for forensics.     

云南汉族人群D17S30位点扩增片段长度多态性A

应用PCR技术和小型聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳银染法, 对云南汉族人群D17S30位点扩增片段长度多态性进行了分析。在被检的105名无关个体中,共检出12个等位基因,41种基因型。等位基因频率范围在0.0048-0.2190之间,杂合度为83.81%,DP值为0.9647。观察的基因型分布符合Hardy-Weinber g定律。 Abstract:A study on amplified fragment length polymorphism(Amp-FLP)at locus D17S30 in Han nationality of Yunnan was carried out by using PCR followed by a high-resolution PAGE technique and silver staining.In a sample of 105 unrelated individuals,a total 12 different alleles and 41 genotypes were detected.The heterozygosity was 83.81% and the probability of discrimination(DP) was 0.9647.The distribution of observed genotypes obeyed the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.     

Practical application of fluorescent quantitative PCR on Trisomy 21 in Chinese Han population

Objective To apply the fluorescent quantitative PCR method on the detection of Trisomy 21 by D21S11 locus and make a foundation for rapid prenatal diagnosis of Trisomy 21. Methods About 409 controls (39 amniotic fluid samples and 370 peripheral blood samples) and 35 patients (4 amniotic fluid samples and 31 peripheral blood samples) with Trisomy 21 were tested using fluorescent quantitative PCR by amplification of DNA fragment on D21S11 STR locus. The results were compared with conventional cytogenetic analysis to confirm the utility of this method. And the allele frequency distributions of D21S11 STR locus were analyzed. Results The 95% reference interval of fluorescent intensity ratios of peak heights of PCR products amplified from two alleles on D21S11 locus ranged from 0.84 to 1.42 (1.13 ± 0.29) in heterozygous controls. About 19 out of 35 patients showed a “diallelic“ pattern and their height ratio of fluorescent peaks of PCR products amplified from two alleles in patients with “diallelic” patterns were all outside of the 95% reference range of controls. The PCR products of DNA from 12 patients presented the third allele. No sample with the “monoallelic“ pattern was found. Four chimeras diagnosed by cytogenetic method could not be diagnosed by this method. There were 17 and 11 alleles found in controls and patients, respectively. About 343 out of 409 controls were heterozygous and the heterozygosity was 83.86%. We did not find any significant differences in the frequency distributions of alleles on D21S11 locus between controls and patients. But there were significant differences in the frequency distributions of alleles on D21S11 locus between controls and patients. But there were significant differences in the frequency distributions of alleles on D21S11 locus among different populations. Conclusions The fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction method was rapid, accurate, and only small amount of starting material was needed, it could be applied in rapid prenatal diagnosis of Trisomy 21. D21S11 was a good marker with high heterozygosity for the screening of Trisomy 21. And the frequency distributions of alleles on D21S11 locus were significantly related to ethnic background. This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30200107) as well as the Dominant Youth Fund from Wuhan University School of Medicine     

The VNTR polymorphism in the human dopamine transporter gene: improved detection and absence of association of VNTR alleles with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

The human dopamine transporter (DAT1) gene contains a variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) in its 3'-untranslated region because of repetition of a 40-bp core sequence. Methods available for the diagnosis of this polymorphism are limited in number. We have developed a new polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, which is similar to that described originally by Vandenbergh's group, but provides a better detection of the VNTR alleles in the human DAT1 gene. Using two independent PCR methods, we have determined the distribution of VNTR alleles in 110 healthy Omani subjects, and in 92 children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The frequency of the risk allele (DAT1*10) was similar in the healthy subjects and ADHD cases, indicating absence of association of this allele with ADHD in Oman.     

中国维吾尔族人群MSY1(DYF155S1)基因座多态性及其结构特点

应用荧光标记MVR-PCR、Amp-FLP与DNA序列分析技术等检测106例中国维吾尔族人群无关男性个体血纱样品,揭示了中国维吾尔族人群Y特异的小卫星MSY1 (DYF155S1)基因座5′和3′端多态性及其基因结构特点。DYF155S1基因座的多态性表现为3个方面：（1）长度多态性;（2）5′端多态性;（3）3′端多态性。106例无关个体共检出37个不同长度的片段,5′端检出68个类型,3′端检出23个类型。综合这3方面多态性,106例个体间没有相同,其基因多样性（h）超过0.9999。DNA序列分析发现该基因座5′端表现有7种模块结构,3′端有2种模块结构。DYF155S2片段缺失率约为4.7%。MVR-PCR、Amp-FLP与DNA序列分析技术结合起来可以更充分地揭示人群Y染色体特异的小卫星MSY1（DYF155S1）基因座多态性,并提出命名方式,从而为人类遗传学及法医学研究提供了有用的方法和基础资料。 Abstract:The study is to reveal the diversity and gene structure of 5′ and 3′ end of DYF155S1 locus in Y-chromosome minisatellite among Chinese Uygur population.Fluorescent MVR-PCR（minisatellite variant repeat by PCR）,Amp-FLP(Amplified fragment length polymorphism) and DNA sequencing methods were used repectively to detect 106 unrelated males among Chinese Uygur population.The polymorphisms of DYF155S1 locus could be revealed in three aspects:(1) polymorphic length:the sizes of amplified fragments ranged from 1405 to 2505bp.There are 37 types found among the 106 unrelated males.(2) polymorphism at 5′ end of DYF155S1 locus,68 types found among the 106 unrelated males.(3) polymorphism at 3′ end of DYF155S1 locus,23 types found among the 106 unrelated males.In combination of these three aspects of polymorphism,none of the 106 unrelated males tested had the same allele,and the gene diversity(h) was over 0.9999.Seven and two types of modular structure were founded in the 5′ and 3′ end of DYF155S1 locus,respectively,by DNA sequencing.The alleles at DYF155S2 locus showed yes/no dimorphism and the rate of deletion was 4.7%.The polymorphisms of DYF155S1 locus were fully revealed by using combination of MVR-PCR, Amp-FLP and DNA sequencing methods, and we suggested the nomenclature for alleles of MVR loci.These methods are useful tools and provide basic data for the study of human genetics and forensic medicine.     

陕西汉族人群12号染色体上7个STR基因座的遗传多态性分析

分析了中国汉族人群中12号染色体上7个短串联重复序列（short tandem repeat,STR）基因座的多态性。 采用荧光标记基因扫描对12号染色体上D12S1718、D12S1675、D12S358、D12S367、D12S1638、D12S1646和D12S1682基因座在80名陕西咸阳、榆林汉族人中的遗传多态性进行分析。结果在中国汉族人群中, D12S1718、D12S1675、D12S358、D12S367、D12S1638、D12S1646和D12S1682基因座分别检出7、10、8、8、6、9和11个等位基因,10、17、18、18、14、18和26个基因型,杂合度分别为44.28％、66.10％、78.89％、77.89％、73.69％、74.55％和82.39％。表明这7个STR基因座在中国人群中有较好的多态性,其基因型分布均符合Hard－Weinberg平衡（P>0.05）。     

The relevance of paternity analysis in Romanian population using the D1S80 locus

At present, DNA fingerprinting for human identification and paternity testing is a necessary and usual procedure. D1S80 is one of the best known polymorphic loci showing a VNTR, and exhibiting a high heterozygosity. This genetic locus, with a Tsp 509 I polymorphism of its 5' flanking sequence (1, 9), have been successfully amplified from human genomic DNA isolated from blood. The Tsp 509 I polymorphism was detected by restriction after PCR amplification. We tested the relevance of paternity analysis using the D1S80 locus considering the allele frequency distribution characteristic for our country. Paternal and maternal bands were compared with the children's DNA patterns. Our data include a comparison between D1S80 alleles amplified from mother, child and the supposed father for three tested families. This study was the first of this type made in Romania. We concluded a good power of discrimination and exclusion for this locus. It can be used successfully in the case of subtypes with low frequencies, and this is frequent for our population because of the high heterozygosity of D1S80 subtypes in Romanian population. We recommend the D1S80 use for exclusion paternity tests in Romanian population, as a very useful molecular tool, but we also recommend a complete set of molecular markers for confirmation paternity test in the same population.     

A note on Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium of VNTR data by using the Federal Bureau of Investigation''s fixed-bin method.

To fully utilize the information of VNTR data for forensic inference, the probability of observing the matching suspect and evidentiary profile in a reference population is estimated, usually by assuming independence of alleles within and between loci. This assumption has been challenged on the basis of the observation that there is frequently an excess of single-band phenotypes (SBP) in forensic data bases, which could indicate lack of independence. Nevertheless, another explanation is that the excess SBP are artifacts of laboratory methods. In this report we examine the excess of SBP for three VNTR loci studied by the FBI (D17S79 and D2S44, for blacks, and D14S13, for Caucasians). The FBI claims that the excess is due to the effect of null alleles; the null alleles are suspected to be too small to be detected. We estimate the frequency of null alleles for two loci (D17S79 and D14S13) by comparing, for these loci, the data from the FBI data base and the data from the Lifecodes data base. These comparisons yield information on small fragments because Lifecodes uses the restriction enzyme PstI, which yields larger fragments than does HaeIII, which the FBI uses. For D17S79 in blacks, we estimate a null allele frequency of 4.4%, and, for D14S13 in Caucasians, we estimate a frequency of 3.0%. The null-allele frequency for D2S44 in blacks is derived similarly, again being based on analyses of DNA cut with HaeIII and PstI; our estimate of the null-allele frequency for this locus is 1.5%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Characterization of the variable-number tandem repeats in vrrA from different Bacillus anthracis isolates.

PCR analysis of 198 Bacillus anthracis isolates revealed a variable region of DNA sequence differing in length among the isolates. Five polymorphisms differed by the presence of two to six copies of the 12-bp tandem repeat 5'-CAATATCAACAA-3'. This variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) region is located within a larger sequence containing one complete open reading frame that encodes a putative 30-kDa protein. Length variation did not change the reading frame of the encoded protein and only changed the copy number of a 4-amino-acid sequence (QYQQ) from 2 to 6. The structure of the VNTR region suggests that these multiple repeats are generated by recombination or polymerase slippage. Protein structures predicted from the reverse-translated DNA sequence suggest that any structural changes in the encoded protein are confined to the region encoded by the VNTR sequence. Copy number differences in the VNTR region were used to define five different B. anthracis alleles. Characterization of 198 isolates revealed allele frequencies of 6.1, 17.7, 59.6, 5.6, and 11.1% sequentially from shorter to longer alleles. The high degree of polymorphism in the VNTR region provides a criterion for assigning isolates to five allelic categories. There is a correlation between categories and geographic distribution. Such molecular markers can be used to monitor the epidemiology of anthrax outbreaks in domestic and native herbivore populations.     

Multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis reveals genetic relationships within Bacillus anthracis

Bacillus anthracis is one of the most genetically homogeneous pathogens described, making strain discrimination particularly difficult. In this paper, we present a novel molecular typing system based on rapidly evolving variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) loci. Multiple-locus VNTR analysis (MLVA) uses the combined power of multiple alleles at several marker loci. In our system, fluorescently labeled PCR primers are used to produce PCR amplification products from eight VNTR regions in the B. anthracis genome. These are detected and their sizes are determined using an ABI377 automated DNA sequencer. Five of these eight loci were discovered by sequence characterization of molecular markers (vrrC(1), vrrC(2), vrrB(1), vrrB(2), and CG3), two were discovered by searching complete plasmid nucleotide sequences (pXO1-aat and pXO2-at), and one was known previously (vrrA). MLVA characterization of 426 B. anthracis isolates identified 89 distinct genotypes. VNTR markers frequently identified multiple alleles (from two to nine), with Nei's diversity values between 0.3 and 0.8. Unweighted pair-group method arithmetic average cluster analysis identified six genetically distinct groups that appear to be derived from clones. Some of these clones show worldwide distribution, while others are restricted to particular geographic regions. Human commerce doubtlessly has contributed to the dispersal of particular clones in ancient and modern times.     

Mutation rate in the hypervariable VNTR g3 (D7S22) is affected by allele length and a flanking DNA sequence polymorphism near the repeat array.

The hypervariable human minisatellite locus D7S22 (g3) is highly polymorphic. The allelic distribution in D7S22 features a size clustering of the alleles and a comparably low allelic diversity among small alleles. This reduced diversity could reflect a situation where some alleles are less likely to mutate than others. Several factors could explain such an effect, including allele size, variation in repeat composition, and allelic differences in nearby cis-acting elements affecting the mutation rate. We have characterized 40 de novo mutations found on Southern blots in a large amount of paternity-testing material. There is a significant excess of paternal mutations, and small size changes are most frequent. Mutation rate is affected by allele length, with highest rates in larger alleles. Alleles of the family groups with D7S22 mutations and 50 small alleles were analyzed by nucleotide sequencing. Two hundred thirty-six base pairs of the immediate flanking region upstream of the repeat array were PCR amplified and screened for point mutations by DNA sequencing of the PCR products. Two base substitution polymorphisms were identified: one C/G transversion and one A/G transition, 54 bp and 173 bp upstream of the repeat array, respectively. There is a significant association between mutation and occurrence of 54C, while association is not obvious between mutation rate and the 173A/G variants. There is a marked association between different flanking haplotypes and allele size, and within the smallest allele-size group, all alleles had the 54G/173A haplotype. Both allele size and allelic state at site 54 remain associated with mutation rate when the other factor is controlled. Possible mechanisms behind the variation in mutation rate in D7S22 are discussed.     

Population Genetic Characteristics of the D1S80 locus in seven human populations

We have analyzed the allele frequency distribution at the highly polymorphic variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) locus D1S80 (pMCT118) in seven ethnic populations (namely, New Guinea Highlanders of Papua New Guinea, Dogrib Indians of Canada, Pehuenche Indians of Chile, American and Western Samoans, Kacharis of Northeast India, and German Caucasians) using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. In the pooled sample of 443 unrelated individuals 20 segregating alleles were detected. A trimodal pattern of allelic distribution is present in the majority of populations and is indicative of the evolutionary antiquity of the polymorphism at this locus. In spite of the observed high degree of polymorphism (expected heterozygosity 56%–86%), with a single exception — the marginally significant P value (0.04) of the exact test in American Samoans — the genotype distributions in all populations conform to their respective Hardy-Weinberg expectations. Summary statistics indicate that, in general, the allele frequency distribution at this locus may be approximated by the infinite allele model. The data also demonstrate that alleles that are shared by all populations have the highest average frequency within populations. Furthermore, the kinship bioassay analysis demonstrates that the extensive variation observed at the D1S80 locus is at the interindividual within population level, which dwarfs any interpopulation allele frequency variation, consistent with the population dynamics of hypervariable polymorphisms. These characteristics of the D1S80 locus make it a very useful marker for population genetic research, genetic linkage studies, forensic identification of individuals, and for determination of biological relatedness of individuals.