Online reference database of European Y-chromosomal short tandem repeat (STR) haplotypes

The reference database of highly informative Y-chromosomal short tandem rep eat (STR haplotypes (YHRD), available online at http://ystr.charite.de, rep resents the largest collection of male-specific genetic profiles currently available for European populations. By September 2000, YHRD contained 4688 9-locus (so-called "minimal") haplotypes, 40% of which have been extended f urther to include two additional loci. Establishment of YHRD has been facil itated by the joint efforts of 31 forensic and anthropological institutions . All contributing laboratories have agreed to standardize their Y-STR hapl otyping protocols and to participate in a quality assurance exercise prior to the inclusion of any data. In view of its collaborative character, and i n order to put YHRD to its intended use, viz, the support of forensic casew orkers in their routine decision-making process, the database has been made publicly available via the Internet in February 2000. Online searches for complete or partial Y-STR haplotypes from evidentiary or non-probative mate rial can be performed on a non-commercial basis, and yield observed haploty pe counts as well as extrapolated population frequency estimates. In additi on, the YHRD website provides information about the quality control test, g enotyping protocols, haplotype formats and informativity, population geneti c analysis, literature references, and a list of contact addresses of the c ontributing laboratories. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.