RECENT OBSERVATIONS IN HUMAN DNA MINISATELLITE MUTATIONS

We report maternal and paternal mutation rates at loci D1S7 (MS1), D7S 21 (MS31), D12S11 (MS43A), and D7S22 (G3). The respective mutation rat es were as follows: [Graphics] At loci D7S21, D12S11, and D7S22 statis tically significant differences in mutation rates exist between the se xes. No such difference was observed at locus D1S7. However inspection of the latter data reveals that by mutation at spermiogenesis approxi mately two-thirds of the fragments showed an addition of repetitive un its, while a 50: 50 ratio was encountered in the series of maternal mu tations. We also report the observation of naturally occurring 3-fragm ent patterns.