Population genetics and forensic utility of 23 autosomal PowerPlex Fusion 6C STR loci in the Kuwaiti population

Abstract This study evaluates the forensic utility of 23 autosomal short tandem repeat markers in 400 samples from Kuwaiti population, which four (D10S1248, D22S1045, D2S441 and SE33) are reported for first time Kuwait. All were shown to exhibit no deviation Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, nor any linkage disequilibrium between within loci, indicating that these loci inherited independently, their allele frequencies can be used estimate match probabilities population. The low combined probability 7.37 × 10 –30 high paternity indices generated by demonstrate usefulness PowerPlex Fusion 6C kit human identification this as well strengthen power testing. Off-ladder alleles seen at several identified examining underlying nucleotide sequences. Principal component analysis (PCA) STRUCTURE showed genetic structure However, PCA revealed a correlation geographic distance. Finally, phylogenetic trees demonstrated close relationship Kuwaitis Middle Easterners global level, recent common ancestry Kuwait with its northern neighbours Iraq Iran, regional level.