Polymorphisms at fifteen tetrameric short tandem repeat loci in three ethnic populations of Bengal, India

Abstract

The study presents allele frequency data at 15 tetrameric short tandem repeat (STR) loci (D3S1358, THO1, D21S11, D18S51, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820, D16S539, CSF1PO, vWA, D8S1179, TPOX, D2S1338, D19S433 and FGA) in three ethnic populations—Mahishya, Bauri and Namasudra of Bengal to evaluate their utility in Forensic testing and understanding population structure and dynamics. A total of 169 individuals were studied from the selected populations. On an average the combined power of discrimination and power of exclusion in these groups was found 0.97 and 0.99, respectively. The allele distribution pattern shows possible genetic admixture between these ethnic groups which could be attributed to their close geographical proximity and occupying almost similar position in the social hierarchy. This study suggests that the 13 Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) [Budowle B, Moretti TR, Baumstark AL, Defenbaugh DA, Keys KM. Population data on the thirteen CODIS core short tandem repeat loci in African American, US Caucasians, Hispanics, Bahamians, Jamaicans and Trinidadians. J Forensic Sci 1999;44:1277–86] markers and two added markers named D2S1338, D19S433 are highly informative and therefore suitable in matching biological specimen in human identification and population genetic study.