Population genetics of Y-chromosomal microsatellites in Baltic males

Y-chromosomal microsatellites (STRs) are potentially useful in forensic pra ctice but, in contrast to autosomal systems, large and diverse population d atabases an required in order to facilitate the statistical evaluation of d onor-stain matches. Since appropriate data from the Baltic region have so f ar been lacking, blood samples were obtained from 430 males originating fro m one of the three Baltic states and these samples were genotyped using a p reviously described "extended core set" of nine Y-STR marker systems. Allel e frequency distributions and discrimination indices were calculated, and t he three populations were tested for genetic differences by means of analys is of molecular variance (AMOVA). A larger genetic difference became appare nt between Estonian and both Lithuanian and Latvian males than between the latter two, non-Finno-Ugric speaking populations. The haplotype data report ed hen have been included into the Y-STR database maintained at the Institu te of Legal Medicine, Humboldt University, Berlin. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scienc e Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.