Forensic Characterization, Genomic Variability and Ancestry Analysis of Six Populations from Odisha Using mtDNA SNPs and Autosomal STRs.

Located on India's eastern coast, Odisha is known for its diverse tribes and castes. In the early days of genome sequencing technology, researchers primarily studied the Austroasiatic communities inhabiting this region to reconstruct the ancient origins and dispersal of this broad linguistic group. However, current research has shifted towards identifying population and individual-specific genome variation for forensic applications. This study aims to analyze the forensic efficiency and ancestry of six populations from Odisha. We assessed the SF mtDNA-SNP60™ PCR Amplification Kit by comparing it with PowerPlex® Fusion 6C System, a widely used autosomal STR (aSTR) kit, in an Indian cohort. Although the mtDNA SNP kit showed low discriminating power for individuals of a diverse population, it could identify deep lineage divergence. Also, we utilized mitochondrial and autosomal variation information to analyze the ancestry of six endogamous ethnic groups in Odisha. We observe two extremities-populations with higher West Asian affinity and those with East Asian affinity. This observation is in congruence with the existing information of their tribal and non-tribal affiliation. When compared with neighbouring populations from Central and Eastern India, multivariate analysis showed that the Brahmins clustered separately or with the Gopala, Kaibarta appeared as an intermediate, Pana and Kandha clustered with the Gonds, and Savara with the Munda tribes. Our findings indicate significant deep lineage stratification in the ethnic populations of Odisha and a gene flow from West and East Asia. The artefacts of unique deep lineage in such a diverse population will help in improving forensic identification. In addition, we conclude that the SF mtDNA-SNP60 PCR Amplification Kit may be used only as a supplementary tool for forensic analysis.

Haplogroup diversity in the Indian population using 23 Y-STRs.

BACKGROUND: A Y-STR polymorphism study is a convenient tool in molecular anthropology and forensic DNA analysis. AIM: Through standard ethical procedures, the proposed study explored the genetic scenario in male lineage in Madhya Pradesh, a central Indian state, by Y-STR genotyping and haplogroup studies. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Five hundred and eleven unrelated male blood samples were directly amplified, and fragment separation was done using capillary electrophoresis to generate a Y-STR profile for 23 forensic relevant markers through PowerPlex® Y 23 multiplex system. The different statistical methods were applied for studying the forensic and genetics parameters. Subsequently, population comparison was performed by AMOVA, PCoA, and MDS plot, and Haplogroups were predicted with Whit Athey's haplogroup predictor tool. CONCLUSION: These data represented the potential value of the PowerPlex® Y-23 multiplex system for the forensic and human genetics application in the population of Madhya Pradesh, India. Simultaneously the Haplogroup analysis revealed information about the multi-geographic origin as well as multi-ethnic genetic affinities of the Madhya Pradesh population.

Forensic features and phylogenetic analyses of the population of Nayagarh (Odisha), India using 23 Y-STRs.

AIM: The present study was designed to explore the STR diversity and genomic history of the inhabitants of Nayagarh district of Odisha, India. We also tested the proficiency of the most recent, new generation PowerPlexR Y23 multiplex system for forensic characterisation and to decipher the phylogenetic affinities. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The genetic diversity and polymorphism among 236 healthy unrelated male volunteers from Nayagarh district of Odisha, India was investigated. This investigation was carried out via 23 Y-chromosomal STRs using capillary electrophoresis. RESULT: A total 223 unique haplotypes were reported. Discrimination capacity (DC), gene diversity (GD) and power of discrimination (PD) were observed as 0.945, 0.999999999998333, and 0.99999999999794, respectively. Polymorphic information content (PIC) and matching probability (PM) were reported as 0.999999999925535 and 2.06 × 10-12, respectively. Simultaneously, the haplogroup analysis characterised with C2, E1b1a, E1b1b, G2a, H1, I2a, J2a, J2b, L, O, O1, O2, Q, R1a, R2, and T haplogroups, disclosing the possible geographical relatedness of the studied population to different areas of the world. CONCLUSION: Phylogenetic analysis with previously reported Indian and Asian populations showed the genetic closeness of the studied population to different Indian populations and the Bangladeshi population of Dhaka, whereas the Bhotra population of Odisha and Han population of China showed much less genetic affinity.