Allele frequencies of six STR loci in Argentine populations

Allele frequencies of six short tandem repeat (STR) loci were determined in a Caucasian urban sample of La Plata city and three Amerindian sample popu lations of Argentina. Allele frequencies showed differences between urbans and Amerindians, and among Amerindians as well. The degree of genetic diffe rentiation of subpopulations was mainly due to the Amerindian contribution. Mapuche, Mocovi, and pooled Amerindian populations showed little evidence of HW disequilibrium, and association of alleles. In the urban sample, ther e is no evidence of population substructuring. Forensic probabilities of ex clusion and matching showed high differences between the population soups. Finally, La Plata sample did not show differences with Caucasians from othe r geographic regions.