Population data on D7S820, FGA, D1S533 and D9S304 in a sample of Caucasian-Mestizos from Colombia

Abstract

1. IntroductionShort tandem repeats (STR) are widely used in forensics as well as in paternity testing[1–4]. However, before a new marker system can be introduced into forensic casework, apopulation database for the relevant population must be established for statisticalevaluation of the evidence.The population of Colombia with nearly 41 million people is composed of three ethnicgroups [5]. The Caucasian-Mestizo population represents the majority of the population,composed mainly of inhabitants of Spanish descent and, in a minor degree, of otherEuropean, Arab and Jewish populations. However, in certain regions (Pacific coast,Caribbean coast and islands), Colombians of African origin are the predominant group[6]. The third ethnic group, the Amerindians, are located mainly in the plains, theAmazonian jungle, in some regions of the Colombian Andes (southwest) and in thenortheast section of the country [7,8]. Previous studies have revealed different degrees ofgenetic admixture in different regions of the country [9]. In the Andean region, theCaucasian-Mestizo population predominates, showing different degrees of admixture,mainly with Amerindians. In the Pacific and Caribbean, coast individuals of African originpredominate where different degrees of admixture are present.We have previously reported the population frequencies for several STR loci [10–13].This report presents allele frequency data in a sample of Caucasian-Mestizos from the