Allele Frequencies at Nine PCR-Based STR Loci in Jordanians

Nine tetranucleotide short tandem repeat (STR) loci, D3S1358, vWA, FGA, D8S1179, D21S11, D18S51, D5S818, D13S317 and D7S820 were analyzed in a Jordanian sample population consisting of unrelated individuals using the PCR-based fluorescent labeled PowerPlex 16 System. Genotypic and allelic frequencies for the nine genetic loci were calculated and statistically analyzed. The observed heterozygosities were 0.840, 0.810, 0.840, 0.760, 0.800, 0.880, 0.720, 0.790 and 0.800, respectively, and the combined power of discrimination (PD) of the nineplex was 0.999999999954. All loci were in agreement with the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium expectations. Allelic frequencies at the D5S818 genetic locus were significantly different from those observed in blacks of Central West Africa. Data presented here provide useful information applicable to forensic investigations and ethnogenetic studies.