Genetic study of 15 STRs loci of Identifiler system in Angola population.

Angola is located in the African continent, in the area of southern Africa and has a population of approximately 14 million inhabitants. The Angola population has origin from Occidental and Southern Bantu people that came from the great lakes region, creating the most ever known African migration of our days. Allele frequencies for the 15 STRs loci in the AmpFlSTR Identifiler kit (D8S1179, D21S11, D7S820, CSF1PO, D3S1358, HUMTH01, D13S317, D16S539, D2S1338, D19S433, HUMVWA, TPOX, D18S51, D5S818, HUMFIBRA/FGA and including the segment of the X-Y homologous gene amelogenin) were studied for Angola population. The genotype frequency of the 15 STR loci showed no significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium expectations and great values for the combined power of discrimination and combined power of a priori exclusion validate the application of these markers in forensic genetics. Comparative analyses between Angola population data and other relevant population database from Africa, Europe and American are presented.

Allelic frequency distribution of 17 STRs from Identifiler and PowerPlex-16 in Central Portugal area and the Azores archipelago.

This study analyzes the allelic frequency distribution of 17 STRs contained in the AmpFlSTR Identifiler (Applied Biosystems) and PowerPlex16 System (Promega) commercial kits for two large population samples from the Azores archipelago (Portugal) (N=475) and from Central Portugal (N=2125). Likewise, it includes a comparative study among the population groups analyzed in this paper and those which history points out as originating from the first settlers of the Azores. All loci were highly polymorphic. The Central Portuguese area and the Azores archipelago population samples are in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for the 17 markers analyzed.

Distribution of Y-chromosomal haplotypes in the Central Portuguese population using 17-STRs.

17 Y-chromosome STR loci (DYS19, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS456, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS385 a/b, DYS458, DYS439, DYS635, GATA H4.1, DYS437, DYS438 and DYS448) were determined for 303 unrelated males, living in Central Portugal, using the AmpFlSTR YFiler PCR Amplification kit (Applied Biosystems). A total of 287 different haplotypes were found, 272 being unique. The overall haplotype diversity (HD) was determined as 0.9996, a value similar to other YFiler data sets. Y-STR polymorphisms in Central Portugal population, using YFiler, provide a powerful discrimination tool for routine forensic applications.

A study of Spanish attitudes regarding the custody and use of forensic DNA databases.

One of the issues that has resulted in much disagreement in many countries at different levels concerns the kind of institution that should be given the responsibility of exercising custody over biological samples and the DNA profiles obtained from these samples. In the field of forensic genetics, there is no doubt that the existence of DNA criminal databases benefits the control and investigation of crime. However, certain criticism, supported to a great extent by the particular vision of genetic exceptionalism has been aimed at the ethical and social consequences resulting from the inappropriate use of such databases. In this sense, it was stated that the support of the population was required for those regulations that propose the extension of police powers in the collection and storage of biological samples, as well as their corresponding DNA analyses. Without such backing, such measures may cause society to distrust the nature of the protection afforded by the legal system and be interpreted as interference in the civil liberties and human rights of the individual. We believe that the opinion poll which has been carried out among the Spanish population may serve to reveal the public attitudes/criteria which society has with regard to those institutions responsible for the custody of DNA profile databases. Finally, it must be pointed out that when the interviewees were asked about what institution or institutions should protect and maintain data confidentiality 59.7% considered that custody should remain in the hands of the National Agency for DNA Profiles (a judicially backed, autonomous public institution).

Y-chromosome STR haplotypes in two population samples: Azores Islands and Central Portugal.

The Y-chromosome haplotypes defined by nine STRs (DYS19, DYS385, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392 and DYS393) were studied in 207 unrelated individuals from Central Portugal and 63 from Azores Islands. The most common haplotype in Central Portugal was shared by 3.4% of the males, while 160 haplotypes were unique. In Azores Islands the most common haplotype was shared by 6.4% of the males, while 40 haplotypes were unique. The values of haplotype diversity were 0.993 for Central Portugal and 0.976 for Azores Islands.

Y-chromosome STR haplotypes in a southwest Spain population sample.

The Y-chromosome polymorphism of eight STRs (DYS19, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392; DYS393, DYS385) were studied in 111 unrelated individuals from the population of southwest Spain. The most common haplotype was shared by 3.6% of the sample, while 99 haplotypes were unique. The gene diversity was 0.9977.