ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the alleles and genotype frequency of 8 short tandem repeat (STR) loci (DXS6804, DXS8378, DXS7132, DXS7133, DXS6789, DXS101, HPRTB and DXS7423) on the X chromosome in Luoba ethnic group of China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The eight X chromosome STR (X-STR) loci were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by polyacylamide gel electrophoresis and silver stain.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among 96 unrelated Luoba individuals, the numbers of alleles in the 8 X-STR loci (DXS7133, DXS6789, DXS6804, DXS8378, DXS101, DXS7424, DXS7132 and HPRTB) were 5, 8, 7, 5, 8, 8, 8 and 5, respectively. The genotype frequencies in females were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The eight X-STR loci are appropriate for individual identification, paternity testing involving a female child and studies on related diseases.</p>