The aim of this study was to analyze STR variation using nine sequencer loc
i (D3S1358, vWA, FGA, THO1, TPOX, CSF1PO, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820) in the s
ubpopulations from four rural regions on the island of Brac of Croatia. The
analysis of allele frequencies as well as the coefficients of generic diff
erentiation indicate homogeneity between the regions. On the other hand, be
tween four Adriatic islands including Brac there is a statistically signifi
cant difference. These findings suggest that STR markers might be more usef
ul for resolving genetic relationships between regions than for (micro)evol
utionary studies of the differentiation within small, closely interrelated
and reproductively isolated rural populations.