BACKGROUND: Highly polymorphic genetic markers like short tandem repeats (STRs) have been used successfully in disease analysis and studies of human evolution and population genetic diversity. However, DNA-based population genetic studies of Indian populations are limited.SUBJECTS AND METHODS: To enlarge our understanding of genetic variation in Indian populations, a population genetic study was carried out on Jat Sikh (Punjab, North India) individuals (n = 150) using a battery of the STR loci. The STR loci analysed by means of PCR amplification followed by electrophoresis and silver staining included HUMCSF1PO, HUMTPOX, HUMTHO1, HUMLPL, HUMF13A01, HUMF13B, HUMFESFPS and HUMVWA loci.RESULTS: The overall pattern of allele frequencies was similar to many Caucasian and Indian populations and heterozygosity varied from 65% (HUMLPL) to 85% (HUMVWA). For all eight loci, no deviations from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium hypothesis were detected. Significant differences were observed between Jat Sikhs and African, Chinese and Indian tribes. The mean exclusion probability ranged from 35% to 70%, and the power of discrimination from 81% to 93%, indicating the potential of these loci for forensic and paternity investigations.CONCLUSION: The allele frequency spectrum, heterozygosity, probability of exclusion, match probability and discrimination probability estimates show interesting variation and suggest the usefulness of these loci for anthropogenetic, paternity and forensic investigations in Indian populations.
DNA Fingerprinting Genetic Markers