Genetic variation observed at three tetrameric short tandem repeat loci HumTHO1, TPOX, and CSF1PO - in five ethnic population groups of northeastern India

This paper portrays the genetic variation observed at three tetrameric shor t tandem repeat (STR) loci HumTHO1, TPOX, and CSF1PO in five ethnic populat ion groups from northeastern India. The study also specifies the suitabilit y of use of these markers for forensic testing. The populations studied inc luded three tribal groups (Kuki, Naga and Hmar), one Mongoloid caste group (Meitei), and a religious caste group (Manipuri Muslims). The loci were hig hly polymorphic in the populations, and all loci met Hardy-Weinberg expecta tions. No evidence for association of alleles among the loci was detected. The probability of match for the three loci of the most frequent genotype i n the five population groups ranged between 2.6 x 10(-4) and 6.6 x 10(-5). The average heterozygosity among the population groups was approximately 70 % with the overall extent of gene differentiation among the five groups bei ng high (G(st) = 0.046). Genetic affinity among the populations reveal very close association between the kuki, Hmar, Naga, and Meitei. The Manipuri M uslims, despite being found in the same region, have had no admixture with these populations and maintain a substantial distance with the other groups . The genetic polymorphism data suggest that the studied systems can be use d for human identity testing to estimate the frequency of a multiple locus STR DNA profile in population groups of northeastern India. Am. J. Hum. Bio l. 13:23-29, 2001. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.