The polymorphisms of DYS388 and DYS392 on the Y chromosome in Japanese and German populations

The analysis of a genotype survey in Japanese and German populations at the loci DYS388 and DYS392 located on the Y chromosome is reported. The gene diversities of DYS388 were 0.34 and 0.30 in the Japanese and German males, respectively, and six alleles were found in both groups. The gene diversities of DYS392 were 0.65 and 0.64 and the number of alleles was 8 and 9, respectively in the two populations. The distribution of DYS388 alleles in the Japanese population was different from the German population. The allele distribution of DYS392 showed significant differences among Asian populations. Received: 5 January 1998 / Received in revised form: 27 April 1998     

Human Y-chromosomal STR haplotypes in a Kurdish population sample

In an Iraqi Kurdish population sample (n = 101), seven polymorphic STR loci of the Y-chromosome (DYS19, 389, 390, 391, 392, 393, and DXYS156-Y) were typed, with DYS389 being subtyped for its four segments. The haplotype diversity was 97.83% and 82 different haplotypes were observed. The Kurds shared some Y-types with neighbouring south Turks but strikingly few with Germans: it is 20–30 times more likely to find a sequence match in a random pair of Kurds than in a random Kurd-German pair. Received: 25 September 1998 / Received in revised form: 4 November 1998 / Accepted: 5 November 1998     

Y-Chromosomal STR haplotypes in a population from north west Germany

We present a German Y-chromosome short tandem repeat (STR)-haplotype database consisting of the loci DYS19, DXYS156-Y, subtypes of DYS389, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392 and as well as DYS393. 104 haplotypes were observed in 179 unrelated Germans, the haplotype diversity is 98.06%. This database is a prerequisite for the forensic application of these new markers.     

Y-STR haplotyping in two Hungarian populations

A set of seven Y-chromosomal STR loci (DYS19, DYS389-I, DYS389-II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393) with the addition of the bilocal marker DYS385 was used to generate male-specific haplotype databases for two Hungarian population samples, Caucasians from the Budapest area and Romanies from Baranya county. At the locus DYS385 three types of intermediate sized alleles were detected in six males. The presence of a (GA) dinucleotide, probably due to an (AA) deletion in the second (GAAA) repeat of the polymorphic repeat region leads to an intermediate allelle 17.2. The intermediate alleles 17.-1 and 18.-1 with the consensus repeat structure of (GAAA)₁₇ and (GAAA)₁₈, respectively, were found to lack a T in the same (T)₇ stretch located within the 3′ flanking region of each allele. The forensic efficiency values for the Romany population were significantly lower than those found in the Central Hungarian and other non-isolated Causasian populations, which may imply a possible common paternal ancestry of some haplotypes in the Romany sample. With pairwise comparisons of inter-population molecular variance, the two populations analyzed here and an Italian population sample, could be clearly distinguished using the seven monolocal Y-STRs. A sizing precision of ≤ 0.14 nucleotide standard deviation was obtained with capillary electrophoresis carried out on an ABI Prism 310 Genetic Analyzer. Objective and accurate genotyping is thus possible using an internal size standard with a high density of fragments. Received: 14 July 1998 / Received in revised form: 8 March 1999     

Y-chromosomal STR haplotypes in a population sample from Bavaria

The seven Y-chromosomal STRs DYS19, DYS385 I/II, DYS389 I/II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392 and DYS393 were amplified using two multiplex PCRs. The optimization of the PCR conditions led to reliable and sensitive systems. Co-amplification of the amelogenin locus was possible in both multiplex systems. In a population sample of 151 Bavarian males, a gene diversity of 0.99 was observed. Sensitivity studies revealed a detection limit of 50 pg DNA per 25 μl reaction volume. PCR experiments with combinations of male/male and male/female DNA showed that in male/male mixtures, the minor component could be detected up to a ratio of 1:15, whereas in male/female mixtures the male component could be found in a higher ratio up to 1: 60. Received: 19 March 1999 / Received in revised form: 16 June 1999     

Evaluation of Y-chromosomal STRs: a multicenter study

A multicenter study has been carried out to characterize 13 polymorphic short tandem repeat (STR) systems located on the male specific part of the human Y chromosome (DYS19, DYS288, DYS385, DYS388, DYS389I/II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, YCAI, YCAII, YCAIII, DXYS156Y). Amplification parameters and electrophoresis protocols including multiplex approaches were compiled. The typing of non-recombining Y loci with uniparental inheritance requires special attention to population substructuring due to prevalent male lineages. To assess the extent of these subheterogeneities up to 3825 unrelated males were typed in up to 48 population samples for the respective loci. A consistent repeat based nomenclature for most of the loci has been introduced. Moreover we have estimated the average mutation rate for DYS19 in 626 confirmed father-son pairs as 3.2 × 10^–3 (95% confidence interval limits of 0.00041–0.00677), a value which can also be expected for other Y-STR loci with similar repeat structure. Recommendations are given for the forensic application of a basic set of 7 STRs (DYS19, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393) for standard Y-haplotyping in forensic and paternity casework. We recommend further the inclusion of the highly polymorphic bilocal Y-STRs DYS385, YCAII, YCAIII for a nearly complete individualisation of almost any given unrelated male individual. Together, these results suggest that Y-STR loci are useful markers to identify males and male lineages in forensic practice. Received: 30 December 1996 / Received in revised form: 26 February 1997     

Mutations in 14 Y-STR loci among Japanese father-son haplotypes

In the present study 161 Japanese father/son haplotype transfers in 147 pedigrees were analyzed at 14 Y-STRs with two multiplex PCR-based typing systems. Five isolated single repeat mutations were identified at the DYS389I, DYS439, Y-GATA-H4, DYS389II and DYS391 loci, and a pedigree showing triple alleles at the DYS385 locus (a duplicate locus) without allelic discrepancy between the father and son was also observed. The overall mutation rate estimated across the 14 Y-STRs in the Japanese population was 0.22%/locus/meiosis (95% C.I. 0.09–0.51%). This rate was not significantly different (p>0.05) from those of autosomal STRs and Y-STRs in other populations, including German, Austrian, Polish and Norwegian populations. Furthermore, 138 haplotypes were identified in 147 pedigrees with a haplotype diversity value of 0.9983. Therefore, a combination of the two systems should permit effective analysis with sufficient discriminatory power.     

Forensic evaluation and population data on the new Y-STRs DYS434, DYS437, DYS438, DYS439 and GATA A10

The Y-specific STR loci DYS19, DYS385, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS434, DYS437, DYS438, DYS439 and GATA A10 were studied in a northern Portuguese population. Haplotype and allele frequencies of these 14 Y-chromosome STRs were estimated. In a sample of 212 individuals it was possible to define 196 different haplotypes of which 182 were found only once, 12 were found in 2 samples and the 2 most frequent haplotypes were shared by only 3 individuals. The observed haplotype diversity value was 0.9992. The usefulness of the inclusion of each of these new markers for forensic purposes is discussed by comparing expected and observed increases in haplotype diversity. When combining the new markers (DYS434, DYS437, DYS438, DYS439 and GATA A10) with the classical set (DYS19, DYS385, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392 and DYS393) a 0.68% increase in haplotype diversity was obtained and the number of different haplotypes rose from 157 to 196. When DYS434 was not considered the haplotype diversity was not affected. Received: 18 June 2001 / Accepted: 23 October 2001     

Y chromosome STR haplotypes: genetic and sequencing data of the Galician population (NW Spain)

Recently described Y-STR polymorphisms can be analysed as informative haplotypes which are useful in the forensic field. In order to include these systems in our forensic routine, we have carried out a population study in Galicia (NW Spain) analysing seven Y-STR polymorphisms (DYS19, DYS389-I, DYS389-II, DYS390, DYS393 and DYS385: two loci). The results were compared with other population studies. In addition various alleles for each system (except DYS385) were sequenced and the corresponding allelic ladders constructed. Received: 6 October 1997 / Received in revised form: 24 March 1998     

Human Y-chromosomal STR types in north Thailand

A north Thai Y-haplotype database consisting of the loci DYS19, DXYS156-Y, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, and the four subsegments of DYS389 is presented. We observed 44 Y-types in 50 unrelated Thais, and the haplotype diversity was calculated to be 97.36%. No Y-types were shared with a sample of 55 Japanese, but 3 matches were found in a sample of 61 Han Chinese, and there was one Thai-German match in a larger west German sample (n = 179).     

Haplotype frequencies of nine Y-chromosome STR loci in the Taiwanese Han population

Haplotype frequencies of nine Y-chromosome STR loci (DYS19, DYS385, DYS388, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392 and DYS393) in the Taiwanese Han population were established. A total of 183 unrelated individuals produced 162 haplotypes, of which 146 were unique, 1 was found in 5 individuals, 2 were found in 3 individuals and 13 were found in 2 individuals. The haplotype diversity (99.99%) and discrimination capacity (88.5%) were calculated. A family study of 109 father/son pairs in 100 families showed 2 mutational events in the DYS389II locus and 1 in the DYS392 locus. Received: 20 February 2001 / Accepted: 15 May 2001     

The effects of Asian population substructure on Y STR forensic analyses

A total of 3046 males of Chinese, Malay, Thai, Japanese, and Indian population affinity were previously typed for the Y STR loci DYS19, DYS385 (counted as two loci), DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS437, DYS438, DYS439, DYS456, DYS458, DYS635, DYS448, and Y GATA H4 using the AmpFlSTR® Yfiler™ kit. These samples were assessed for population genetic parameters that impact forensic statistical calculations. All population samples were highly polymorphic for the 16 Y STR markers with the marker DYS385 being the most polymorphic, because it is comprised of two loci. Most (2677 out of a total of 2806 distinct haplotypes) of the 16 marker haplotypes observed in the sample populations were represented only once in the data set. Haplotype diversities were greater than 99.57% for the Chinese, Malay, Thai, Japanese, and Indian sample populations. For the Y STR markers, population substructure correction was considered when calculating the rarity of a Y STR profile. An F_ST value, rather than a R_ST value, is more appropriate under a forensic model. Because the F_ST values are very small within the Asian populations, the estimate of the rarity of a haplotype comprised of 10–16 markers does not need substructure correction. However haplotypes with fewer markers may require F_ST corrections when calculating the rarity of the profile.     

Genetic data for 16 Y-chromosomal STR loci in Japanese

Allele frequencies and haplotypes for 16 Y-chromosome STR loci, DYS19, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS437, DYS438, DYS439, DYS448, DYS456, DYS458, DYS635, Y GATA H4, and DYS385a/b, were determined in 161 unrelated Japanese males using AmpFlSTR Yfiler PCR Amplification Kit. This population was demonstrated 153 haploytpes, of which 146 were unique, six were found in two individuals, and one was found in three individuals. The haplotypes diversity calculated from the 16 Y-STR loci was 0.9994 and the discrimination capacity was 0.9503.     

Haplotype analysis with 14 Y-STR loci using 2 multiplex amplification and typing systems in 2 regional populations in Japan

In this study 14 Y-STR loci (DYS393, DYS19, DYS391, DYS437, DYS435, DYS439, DYS389II, DYS438, DYS436, DYS390, Y-GATA-H4, DYS385, Y-GATA-A7.1 and DYS392) were analysed in 207 Japanese males from Honshu (main island of Japan, Nagoya City) and 87 Japanese males from Okinawa (southernmost islands of Japan) using two multiplex PCR typing systems, a novel 10-plex amplification system and a new commercially available 6-plex typing kit which had two loci in common. The allele frequency distributions were similar at almost all of the 14 loci. Of the haplotypes observed, 244 were unique in both Japanese populations and 17 haplotypes were observed more than once but the 2 populations shared only 7 haplotypes. The haplotype diversities for the 14 loci were 0.9987 and 0.9976 in Honshu and Okinawa Japanese, respectively. The haplotype analysis at 14 Y-STR loci would be useful for personal identification in forensic fields and for population genetics because of the high divergence of these haplotypes.     

Y-Chromosome multiplexes and their potential for the DNA profiling of Koreans

We have developed four multiplex genotyping systems (GeneKin Y-STR multiplexes) using silver staining with allelic ladders for ten Y-chromosome STR markers (DYS19, DYS385, DYS388, DYS389I/II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393 and DXYS156Y), with a view towards the application of rapid and simple genotyping assay methods for DNA profiling. The GeneKin Y-STR multiplexes developed have followed the published nomenclature and ISFG guidelines for STR analysis. Allele and haplotype frequencies at these Y-STRs loci were analysed by PCR amplification using the GeneKin Y-STR multiplexes, followed by denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in 316 unrelated males in the Korean population. A total of 295 different haplotypes were found, 279 of them being unique. Gene diversity ranged from 0.4026 at DYS391 to 0.9606 at DYS385. The haplotype diversity value (which is the same as the discrimination index) calculated from all ten loci combined was 0.9995, which is informative. Our results revealed that a set of ten Y-STRs can discriminate between most of the male individuals in the Korean population (discrimination capacity: 93.35%). The Y-STR multiplexes thus provide useful information for forensic analysis and paternity tests and can also be of great benefit for providing information not normally available from autosomal DNA systems. Received: 12 March 2001 / Accepted: 26 June 2001     

Usefulness of 12 Y-STRs for forensic genetics evaluation in two populations from Venezuela

The distribution of allele frequencies and haplotypes for 12 STRs loci, (DYS19, DYS389I/II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS385a/b, DYS437, DYS438 and DYS439) on the Y-chromosome from two Venezuelan populations were determined in 173 DNA samples of unrelated males living in Caracas (62) and Maracaibo (111). Some parameters of forensic importance were calculated. AMOVA and genetic distances between these populations were estimated. The results confirmed Y-STR genotypes as useful markers for forensic genetics analysis.     

Gender-specific amplification of Japanese macaque genes using primers for the human DYS391 and DYS438 loci

The species specificity of 10 human Y chromosomal short tandem repeat loci, DYS19, DYS385, DYS389, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS437, DYS438 and DYS439, was examined in the Japanese macaque, Macaca fuscata. Primers for loci DYS391 and DYS438 only yielded an amplification product from male samples. The PCR products amplified with the DYS391 primers showed no inter-individual differences in migration rate in electrophoretic experiments. Sequence analysis revealed that these PCR products consisted of 287 bases containing tandem repeats of TC and TATC. The numbers of TC and the TATC repeats varied between individuals. The TC repeat does not exist in human and chimpanzee sequences. The PCR products amplified by the DYS438 primers provided no evidence of inter-individual variation between the six male Japanese macaque samples. In the Japanese macaque, PCR gives a 184 base pair product, in contrast to human sample from which the products are 203-233 bases in size. The primers for four loci, DYS19, DYS385, DYS389 and DYS437 produced PCR products from both male and female Japanese macaques. The primers for the other loci, DYS390, DYS392, DYS393 and DYS439, did not yield PCR products.     

Y-chromosomal STR haplotyping in a Japanese population

The Y-specific STR systems including DYS19, DYS385, DYS389I, DYS390, DYS391 and DYS393, were investigated in 117 Japanese males. Analysis of the 6 loci permitted classification of the samples into 90 haplotypes, and the haplotypic diversity was estimated to be 0.984. Distribution of the haplotypes in the Japanese population studied was different from that in European populations.     

Y-Chromosome STR haplotypes in an Italian population sample

Seven Y-chromosome STRs were investigated in a male population sample from the Modena area by means of one quadruplex reaction (systems DYS19, DYS390, DYS391, DYS393), one duplex reaction (systems DYS389-II, DYS392) and two single PCR reactions (DXYS156 and DYS389-I/II). In 100 males, 71 different haplotypes could be observed, 57 of which were seen only once. The haplotype diversity/discrimination index is 0.97. The resulting database could be used for routine forensic application like paternity testing and stain investigation. Received: 6 November 1997 / Received in revised form: 12 March 1998