African Jordanian population genetic database on fifteen short tandem repeat genetic loci

To establish a genetic database of the African-Jordanian population for forensic and paternity testing purposes.

Allelic distribution at fifteen short tandem repeat (STR) loci was determined for 95 healthy unrelated African-Jordanians. The 15 autosomal STR loci, included within the GenePrint PowerPlex 16 system, were amplified from the subset of the 95 DNA extracts isolated from the population sample. Electrophoresis for each polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product was carried out using the ABI Prism 310 Genetic Analyzer and the length of the amplified DNA fragments was determined using the Genotype 2.0 and PowerTyper 16 Macro softwares. Calculations of allelic frequencies, forensic efficiency parameters, Hardy-Weinberg departure, and quantitative analysis of the allele frequencies in various populations were determined.

DNA extracts were successfully amplified and the genetic database was compiled. All tested loci showed no significant statistical deviation from Hardy-Weinberg expectations. Furthermore, no significant difference was observed between the sample population under investigation and other population genetic databases.

The loci investigated here proved to be sufficiently polymorphic for forensic purposes, since the forensic efficiency values suggest that they are very discriminating in the African-Jordanian subpopulation.