Genetic Polymorphisms of 15 STR Loci for a Chinese Population in South China Using PowerPlexTM16 kits

【Objective】To investigate the genetic polymorphism and its Forensic application of 15 STR loci in PowerPlexTM16 system in a Chinese Han race population in South China, and compare the sample with four other databases. 【Methods】 Allele frequencies for 15 STR loci found in PowerPlexTM16 kit were determined in a sample of 4 786 unrelated Chinese individuals in South China. The values of genetic parameters for Forensic using were calculated. The obtained frequency distributions were compared with other previously reported population data. 【Results】 No deviations of the observed allele frequency from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium expectations were found for Chi-square test (P0.05). 241 alleles and 1 043 genotypes were observed, Allele frequencies varies between 0.0001 and 0.5458; 60 off ladder alleles (at 13 STR loci) were found. Observed heterozygosity (Ho) varies between 0.6030 and 0.9076, polymorphic information content (PIC) varies between 0.5428 and 0.9044; total discrimination power (TDP) of 15 STR loci is 0.9999999999999999971, cumulative probability of paternity exclusion (CPE) for triplet cases is 0.99999981, CPE for fatherless or motherless cases (CPE *) is 0.9543. To compare the allele frequencies of our sample and other four populations, statistically significant differences (P0.05) were found in all four pairs at 7,9,15 and 15 loci. 【Conclusion】 All 15 loci in PowerPlexTM16 system show highly polymorphic in South China Han race population. This report of allele frequencies would serve as a reference database for personal identification and paternity testing.