Genetic analysis of 17 Y-chromosomal STRs haplotypes of Chinese Tibetan ethnic group residing in Qinghai province of China

We have co-amplified and analyzed 17 Y-chromosomal STRs loci including European 'extended haplotypes' (DYS 19, DYS389 I, DYS389 II, DYS390. DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS385a,b, DYS438, and DYS439) and also six additional loci DYS437, DYS448, DYS456, DYS458, DYS635 and YGATA H4 in a population sample of 167 healthy unrelated autochthonous male individuals of Chinese Tibetan ethnic minority group residing in Qinghai province of China using a multiplex PCR system. The gene diversity values for the Y-STRs loci ranged from a minimum 0.3581 for DYS391 locus to a maximum of 0.8702 for DYS385a,b loci in Tibetan population. A total of 163 haplotypes were identified in the set of Y-STR loci, of which 159 were unique and 4 found in two individuals. The overall haplotype diversity for the set of Y-STRs loci was 0.9998, and the discrimination capacity was 0.9938. Research results will be valuable for human identification and paternity tests in the region and for Chinese population genetic study in the future. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.