[Four Y-STR multiplex system by silver staining]

A multiplex PCR system has been developed to amplify 4 Y-chromosome specific short tandem repeats (STR), DYS391, GATA-A4, GATA-A10 and GATA-H4, simultaneously. PCR products were separated by polyacrylamide gels electrophoresis followed by silver stain. When 311 unrelated males from the Han population in Guangdong were detected by the multiplex system, DYS391, GATA-A4, GATA-A10 and GATA-H4 showed 5, 7, 6 and 5 alleles respectively. Total 98 haplotypes could be identified. Gene diversity value for the 4 STR was 0.4623, 0.6972, 0.7173 and 0.6015 respectively. The gene diversity value for the haplotypes of the 4 Y-STR reached 0.9755. The four Y-STR multiplex system will be very powerful for establishing Y-STR database, exploring human origin, paternity testing and personal identification.