HIGHLY DISCRIMINATING HEPTAPLEX SHORT TANDEM REPEAT PCR SYSTEM FOR FORENSIC IDENTIFICATION

We describe a highly discriminating multiplex short tandem repeat PCR human identification system that gives a matching probability for Cauc asians of European ancestry of 2.91 x 10(-8) or 5.66 x 10(-10) when us ed in combination with a previously described system. The system produ ces discrimination equal to or greater than four single locus probes ( restriction fragment length polymorphism [RFLP] typing of variable nuc leotide tandem, repeat [VNTR] loci). The test is robust and reproducib le and works with 1-10 ng of template DNA, using fluorescent detection of PCR products from either 4 or 6 short tandem repeat loci and the X -Y homologous gene amelogenin, giving simultaneous sex diagnosis.