Polymorphisms at 17 Y-STR loci in Botswana populations.

Area of Science:

• Forensic Genetics
• Population Genetics
• Human Genetics

Background:

• Y-chromosomal short tandem repeats (YSTRs) are crucial for male lineage tracing.
• Understanding genetic diversity in Sub-Saharan Africa is vital for forensic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the Y-STR genetic variation in the Botswana population.
• To assess the forensic potential of YSTRs in this region.
• To investigate population structure within Sub-Saharan Africa using YSTR data.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 17 Y-chromosomal short tandem repeats (YSTRs) in 252 unrelated males.
• Haplotype diversity and discrimination capacity calculations.
• Population differentiation analyses using RST, multi-dimensional scaling (MDS), and AMOVA.
• Database searches against YHRD and Applied Biosystems Y-STR databases.

Main Results:

• A total of 238 unique YSTR haplotypes were identified with high haplotype diversity (0.9990) and discrimination capacity (0.9444).
• Database searches revealed matches to African American, Sub-Saharan African, and South American populations.
• Significant genetic differentiation was observed between Botswana and neighboring Sub-Saharan African populations, but not within Botswana.

Conclusions:

• The YSTR profiles from Botswana exhibit high discriminatory power for forensic use.
• The genetic landscape of Sub-Saharan Africa is heterogeneous, with Botswana showing distinct characteristics.
• YSTR data can provide valuable insights into population structure and aid forensic investigations.