The analysis of Y chromosome polymorphisms in populations of the United Arab Emirates

Y chromosome markers can complement the use of autosomal markers, for example when a forensic scientist is confronted with a DNA mixture or needs to amplify male specific markers in paternity cases where the father is not available. Y chromosome markers are also powerful lineage markers and therefore have been used for anthropological studies The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a small country of the Middle East. The government of UAE has endeavoured to support the police with forensic laboratories that include a forensic DNA laboratory. The UAE Police DNA laboratory needed to develop a Y Short Tandem Repeat (STR) marker database for three major groups (the UAE Arab, Indian and Pakistani populations) in order to allow the use of Y STRs in forensic case work. This project was designed to develop the Y STR haplotype database using an AmpFtSTR' Y filer® kit that co-amplifies 17 Y STR loci, including the core set of loci defined as the European Minimal Haplotype loci and the loci recommended by the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM) for forensic DNA profiling purposes. Blood samples were collected from 414 unrelated male volunteers in the UAE after obtaining informed consent. DNA was extracted using organic extraction methods and samples were profiled using the AmpFtSTR' Y filer® kit under optimal PCR conditions. PCR products were detected on an ABI PRISM® 310 Genetic Analyzer and the fragment sizes were analyzed by GeneScan® software. The alleles were designated according to the number of repeat units, based on the sequenced allelic ladders supplied with the kit. The project revealed several new alleles at different loci. At some loci, null alleles were detected in certain samples, which had to be amplified using in-house designed primers. Some of the null alleles were sequenced to confirm the primer binding site mutation. Allelic frequencies and haplotype frequencies were concordant with other reports. High gene diversity values resulting in high values for the discriminatory capacity were also observed. Some haplotypes were shared between the populations but population differentiation analyses reveal significant differences between the three populations.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

msc

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

masters

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Central Lancashire

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• Sallam, Latheqia Ahmed Kasim

• F410 - Forensic science

Language dc:language

en