Korean J Leg Med. 2012 May;36(1):45-55. Korean.

Department of Forensic Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, kjshin@yuhs.ac

Human Identification Research Center, Yonsei University, Seoul Korea

We developed a web-based Y chromosomal short tandem repeat (Y-STR) database(ySTRmanager, http://ystrmanager.yonsei.ac.kr) to facilitate calculation of YSTRhaplotype frequency estimates for random matches and kinship indices for variousrelationship levels. The ySTRmanager database provides 3 functions: (i) Y-STR haplotype search, (ii) kinship index calculation, and (iii) user database configuration.The Y-STR haplotype search function allows researchers to retrieve Y-STR haplotypes that meet queried Y-STR allele, Y-haplogroup affiliation, and/or sample information from a selected population in the open database, which consists of 12-17 Y-STR loci. The number of matches in a selected population, haplotype frequency estimator, and detailed results for matched and neighbor haplotypes are displayed as a set of search results. The kinship index calculation function provides kinship indices of 2 input Y-STR haplotypes for the relationship represented by the number of meioses, with consideration of target population and mutation rate of each Y-STR. In addition, ySTRmanager allows registered users to configure their own database to store andanalyze Y-STR haplotype and/or mutation rate data. The stored Y-STR data can beused in the search function and in the analysis to obtain forensic statistical values. The ySTRmanager will be a useful system to analyze and manage Y-STR data in the practice of forensic genetics.

Key words : Y-chromosome, STR, database, frequency estimator, kinship index,mutation rate

Original article