Pentanucleotide short tandem repeat locus DXYS156 displays different patterns of variations in human populations.

AIM To establish a database for the pentameric short tandem repeat locus DXYS156 from worldwide populations for routine genotyping in forensic identity testing and evolutionary biology. METHODS Using polymerase chain reaction with a newly designed primer pair, we analyzed 1,408 male and female samples from 28 populations representing four major geographic groups. RESULTS We observed 11 different alleles, which we sequenced and used to construct an allelic ladder. CONCLUSION DXYS156 displays a contrasting pattern of X-linked and Y-linked variation among geographic regions, and between X and Y chromosomes. This complex allele distribution may be forensically useful for the ethnic differentiation of unknown stains.