Forensic genetic value of a 27 Y-STR loci multiplex (Yfiler® Plus kit) in an Italian population sample

The analysis of Y chromosome short tandem repeat (Y-STR) haplotypes provides important information that can be used for investigative purposes and in population studies. The Yfiler (R) Plus PCR Amplification kit (Yfiler (R) Plus, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA) allows the multiplex amplification of 27 Y-STRs, including 7 rapidly mutating markers (RM Y-STRs). In this study, 203 unrelated males from Italy, which were subdivided into 4 different geographical groups (North, Center, South and Sardinia) were analyzed. Several intra-population diversity indexes were computed and compared to those obtained using only loci either from the minimal haplotype or the 17-plex (Yfiler (R), Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA). In addition, inter-population diversity analysis (R-ST) among the four Italian samples was performed. The same analysis was also used to compare the Italian sub-sets to other European populations where the Yfiler (R) Plus haplotype frequency data were available. The Sardinians were significantly differentiated from the other three Italian groups, thus requiring a specific sub-national Y-STR haplotype database. The Yfiler (R) Plus kit showed a high power of discrimination which is useful for criminal investigations, principally due to the inclusion of RM Y-STRs. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.