Multilocus DNA profiling using the probe 33.6 in the Tamil Nadu population of South India

Using the multilocus minisatellite probe 33.6 in combination with the HinfI restriction enzyme, the extent of genetic variation detected by DNA fingerprinting was estimated in 102 unrelated individuals of the Dravidian Hindu population of Tamil Nadu, South India. In this first study of its kind on an anthropologically defined Indian population, DNA fragments of size >2.5 kb could be reliably scored. Results indicate that the Tamilian Hindus show an average number of bands per individual somewhat smaller (15.69 for fragments of size >2.5 kb) than that in other Caucasian populations. For comparable molecular weight of fragment sizes, the Tamilian Hindus show a lower level of band sharing probabilities between unrelated individuals compared with other Caucasians. Nevertheless, the probe 33.6 offers a high level of individualization of DNA fingerprints for unrelated individuals in Tamil Nadu. Computations on expected band sharing frequencies between various biological relatives and expected DNA fingerprint identity indicate that this multilocus minisatellite probe can be efficiently used in resolving forensic identification and parentage testing cases in this South Indian population in spite of its high level of inbreeding. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 10:87-93, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.