ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The study was conducted to reveal the distribution of genetic polymorphism of four Y chromosome specific short tandem repeat (Y-specific STR) loci in Li ethnic groups in Hainan Island, China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Four tetranucleotide STR loci were simultaneously amplified with fluorescently labeled primers, and genotypes were determined with an automated DNA sequencer.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among 230 unrelated males, the alleles at the four Y-specific STR loci were composed of some complex repeat structure. 4,5,4,5 alleles were observed in loci DYS3891, DYS390, DYS391, DYS393 respectively. A set of human allele ladders for the typing of the four Y-specific STRs was obtained in Li ethnic population. Gene diversity index (D) and haplotype diversity data were estimated for the four Y-STRs.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The preliminary study indicates a reference population for detecting male migration events and should be useful in population genetics and forensic applications.</p>