A MICROSATELLITE POLYMORPHISM IN THE VON-WILLEBRAND-FACTOR GENE - COMPARISON OF ALLELE FREQUENCIES IN DIFFERENT POPULATION SAMPLES AND EVALUATION FOR FORENSIC MEDICINE

The allele frequencies at the tetranucleotide repeat (TCTA) vWA locus in the vWF gene were determined in the general Finnish population, in a population representing an internal isolate of Finland, in the Volog da-Russian population, and in US Black population samples. The allele and genotype frequencies from these population samples were compared w ith each other and with those reported from Spanish and British popula tion samples. Statistically significant differences were demonstrated between most of the different groups (Finns vs. Vologda-Russians, Finn s vs. US Blacks, Finns vs. Spanish, Vologda-Russians vs. US Blacks, Vo logda-Russians vs. Spanish, US Blacks vs. Spanish and US Blacks vs. Br itish Caucasians), but not between the two Caucasoid population sample s from Finland and Great Britain, nor between or within the subpopulat ion samples from Finland and those from Vologda-Russia. In addition, t he vWA marker was evaluated and demonstrated to be reliable for forens ic purposes and paternity testing.