Analysis of 24 Y-STR haplotype data in a Chinese Han population from Guangdong Province

In this study, we investigated the genetic polymorphisms of 24 Y-chromosomal short tandem repeat (Y-STR) loci in 885 unrelated Chinese Han male individuals from Guangdong Province, using a domestic AGCU Y24 STR kit. A total of 878 different haplotypes were observed at the 24 Y-STR loci; among them, 871 haplotypes were unique and 7 haplotypes occurred twice. The overall haplotype diversity was 0.99998 and the discrimination capacity was 99.2%. The gene diversity values ranged from 0.4354 at DYS438 to 0.9606 at DYS385a/b. Population relationships between the Guangdong Han population and seven other published Chinese populations were evaluated by Rst values and visualized in a two multi-dimensional scaling plot. The results showed the 24 Y-STR loci are highly polymorphic in Guangdong Han population and of great value in forensic application.