Development and population study of an eight-locus short tandem repeat (STR) multiplex system

Amplification of short tandem repeat (STR) loci has become a useful tool fo r human identification applications. To improve throughput and efficiency f or such uses, the polymorphic STR loci CSF1PO, TPOX, TH01, vWA, D16S539, D7 S820, D13S317. D5S818, F13A01, FESFPS, F13B, and LPL have bean evaluated, d eveloped, and configured into fluorescently labeled multiplex systems. Eigh t of these STR loci were combined to generate the PowerPlex(TM) System, a t wo-color multiplex system that supports rapid, accurate, reliable analysis and designation of alleles. The remaining four loci comprise the FFFL Syste m, a one-color multiplex system. The PowerPlex(TM) System may be evaluated alternatively as two one-color, four-locus multiplex systems, CTTv Multiple x and GammaSTR(TM) Multiplex. The products of multiplex amplification may b e analyzed with a variety of fluorescence detection instruments. Determinat ion of genotypes of over 200 individuals from each of three different popul ation/ethnic groups revealed independence of inheritance of the loci and al lowed calculation of matching probability, typical paternity index, and pow er of exclusion for each multiplex.