Allele and haplotype frequencies of Y-short tandem repeat loci in Turkey.

AIM To assess the frequency distribution of six Y-chromosomal specific short tandem repeat (STR) polymorphisms and frequencies of haplotypes in Turkish population. METHODS Blood samples were taken from 200 unrelated Turkish men from different regions of Turkey, who were involved in legal proceedings concerning paternity. The DNA was amplified and typed by use of Y-Plex 6 kit containing 6 Y-STR markers (DYS393, DYS19, DYS389 II, DYS390, DYS391, and DYS385). Capillary electrophoresis was carried out on an ABI 310 Genetic Analyzer. RESULTS Allele frequency profiles of the Turkish men showed no significant differences compared with previously published results for Swiss and German populations. The range of gene diversity was determined between 48.3% for DYS391 and 96.0% for DYS385. Of 184 determined haplotypes, 170 occurred once, and the rest more than once. The most common haplotypes had a frequency of 1.5%. CONCLUSION High degree of haplotype diversity in Turkish population makes analysis of Y-STRs a useful tool in forensic cases.