A Korean population study for the COfiler STR loci (D3S1358, D16S539, TH01, TPOX, CSF1PO, D7S820).

Korean J Leg Med. 2003 May;27(1):65-82. Korean.

Department of Oral Diagnosis and Oral Medicine, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Korea. jhchoij@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr

Department of Forensic Medicine, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Korea.

Department of Forensic Medicine, National Institute of Scientific Investigation, Korea.

Biometrics Engineering Research Center, Yonsei University, Korea.

Human Identification Research Institute, Yonsei University, Korea.

In the United States, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officially launched its national DNA database. This database, named the combined DNA Index System (CODIS), included one gender-determining amelogenin and 13 polymorphic short tandem repeats (STR) loci. To introduce a new STR system, a population database for the relevant population must be established for the statistical analysis of forensic cases. AmpFlSTR Profiler Plus PCR Amplification Kit (Profiler Plus Kit) and AmpFlSTR COfiler PCR Amplification Kit (COfiler Kit) are required to obtain information from all the 13 CODIS core STR loci. Study on 9 STR loci using Profiler Plus kit was already performed in a Korean population, but not yet on 6 STR loci using COfiler Kit. This study intends to evaluate usefulness of 6 COfiler STR loci (D3S1358, D16S539, TH01, TPOX, CSF1PO, D7S820) in forensic identification. Buccal swab samples obtained from 300 randomly selected unrelated Koreans. DNA was extracted from the buccal swab samples and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed using the COfiler Kit to amplify it. And using automated DNA sequencer and computer program, the allele and genotype frequency distribution is investigated and statistical analysis was performed for the PCR products. The following results were obtained: 1. The observed heterozygosity at each STR locus ranged from 0.650 to 0.800 and the expected heterozygosity at each STR locus ranged from 0.642 to 0.787. 2. The polymorphism information content (PIC) at each STR locus ranged from 0.583 to 0.752 and is higher than 0.5 for all loci to have relatively high information content. 3. The power of discrimination (PD) at each STR locus ranged from 0.811 to 0.921 and the combined power of discrimination is calculated to be 0.999996. 4. The mean exclusion chance (MEC) at each STR locus ranged from 0.386 to 0.576 and the combined mean exclusion chance is calculated to be 0.98088. Based on the results of this study, 6 COfiler STR loci may be useful in forensic identification including finding an individual in relation to criminal case and paternity testing.

Key Words : COfiler, STR loci, CODIS, individual identification, D3S1358, D16S539, TH01, TPOX, CSF1PO, D7S820