Polymorphism and Forensic Application Value of 71 Y-SNP Loci in Han Population of Northwest China

To analyze the polymorphism of 71 SNP loci on Y chromosome in Han population of Northwest China, to assess its forensic application value, and to screen out Y-SNP loci for forensic examination of Han population in East, South, and Northwest China based on the integration of previous research results.

Multiplex polymerase chain reaction （PCR） and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry （MALDI-TOF-MS） were performed on 71 Y-SNP loci of 202 unrelated Han male individuals in Northwest China. Gene diversity （GD） and haplotype diversity （HD） values were calculated, and then Y-SNP loci of Han population in East, South, and Northwest China were screened with the combination of data from previous research.

Among the detected 71 loci, 67 loci were polymorphic in the Northwest Han male population, with GD values 0.010 0-0.502 2. There were 22 and 25 loci with a moderate （0.2≤GD<0.3） and high （GD≥0.3） amount of genetic information, respectively. There were 26 loci for the Han communities in Northwest, South, and East China.

Y-SNP loci are potential in paternity testing and individual identification, as well as the judgement of population distribution and migration.