HUMAN PHYLOGENETIC-RELATIONSHIPS ACCORDING TO THE D1S80 LOCUS

By analysing the allelic frequencies at the D1S80 locus in 43 human po pulations, we show that the locus is polymorphic globally and that it can be used to discriminate between major racial groups and subpopulat ions through phylogenetic analysis. Although the use of informative mu ltiple loci generally provides more accurate phylogenetic relationship s, in instances where time and/or target DNA availability is limited, D1S80 could provide useful data to discriminate between human groups. Also, knowledge of which loci independently provide accurate phylogene tic relationships, such as the D1S80, can be used to design more accur ate multi-locus combinations. In addition, allele frequencies at the l ocus are reported, for the first time, for Bahamian individuals of Afr ican origin and for Chimila, Bari, and Navajo (Canoncito Valley) nativ e Americans. Allelic data was obtained using standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. In the four new populations, 65 genotypes and 20 segregating alleles were observed. All populations conformed to Hardy-Weinberg expectations except the Chimila.