The potential contribution of MVR-PCR to paternity probabilities in a caselacking a mother

Minisatellite variant repeat (MVR) mapping using the polymerase chain react ion (PCR) was applied to a paternity case lacking a mother to evaluate the paternity probability. After three flanking polymorphic sites at each of MS 31A and MS32 loci were investigated from the child and alleged father, alle le-specific MVR-PCR was performed using genomic DNA. It was confirmed that one allele in the child was identical to that in the alleged father at both loci. Mapped allele codes were compared with allele structures established from population surveys. No perfect matches were found although some motif s were shared with other Japanese alleles. The paternity index and probabil ity of paternity exclusion at these two MVR loci were then estimated, estab lishing the power of MVR-PCR even in paternity cases lacking a mother.