Study of genetic markers with medico-legal and forensic interest in Lisbon’s population (preliminary results)

Abstract

Across Portuguese laboratories of forensic genetics, the 13 STRs from the CODIS system and at least four more STR’s (D2S1338, D19S433, Penta D and Penta E) are analyzed. Nevertheless, in complex cases it could be necessary the study of additional genetic markers.Given the lack of population studies regarding 10 new STR - D2S1360, D3S1744, D4S2366, D5S2500, D6S474, D7S1517, D8S1132, D10S2325, D12S391, D21S2055 -, it’s necessary to study their frequencies in Lisbon’s population. In this study, samples from 176 individuals, from both genders and from unrelated individuals comprised in forensic investigations in progress at Instituto Nacional De Medicina Legal e Ciências Forenses (INMLCF), were analyzed with the Investigator HDplex Kit (Qiagen).Allele frequencies and statistical parameters were estimated with Arlequin 3.5.2.2 and PowerStat V12.The obtained results for forensic statistical parameters, such as observed and expected heterozygosity, polymorphism information content, power of discrimination, based on single allele frequencies reveal that the Investigator HDplex Kit (Qiagen) is highly informative and can represent an important tool for genetic identification purposes for forensic investigations ongoing at the INMLCF, especially in paternity cases, related to individuals from the great Lisbon area.