Statistical Parameters of Forensic Importance for 15 Autosomal STRs in Mestizo Population from the State of Guerrero (South Mexico)

Background: Human identification requires the maintenance of population databases of short tandem repeat (STR) loci that allow for their correct interpretation during paternity testing and forensic cases. Material and Methods: We analyzed 15 STR loci with the AmpFlSTR® Identifiler kit in a Mestizo (admixed) population sample from the state of Guerrero (South Mexico). Results: We estimated the allele distribution and different forensic parameters in this population. Genotype distribution was in agreement with the Hardy-Weinberg expectations for all 15 STRs. Similarly, linkage disequilibrium test demonstrated no association between the pair of loci. The power of exclusion and power of discrimination values were 99.9994% and >99.99999%, respectively. Interpopulation analysis suggested that the Mestizo populations from the Central and the Southern regions conform one population cluster, separated from the Southeastern and Northwestern regions. Conclusions: We describe the genetic structure of Mexican Mestizos based on 15 STRs reporting for the first time a population representing the Southern region.