Genetic characterization of 19 X-STRs in Sierra Leone population from Freetown

A total of 550 individuals (265 males and 285 females) from Sierra Leone, a west-African coastal country, were genotyped using the Microreader™ 19X ID System kit. No significant deviations from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were observed. A total of 250 alleles were identified with corresponding allele frequencies spanning from 0.0012 to 0.6762. PIC of the loci ranged from 0.4615 to 0.9481. The CPE, CPD_F, and CPD_M were 0.9999997856, 0.999999999999999999995774, and 0.999999999998997, respectively. The highly combined MEC_Kruger, MEC_Kishida, MEC_Desmarais, and MEC_{Desmarais Duo} were achieved as 0.99999992508, 0.999999999990802, 0.999999999990836, and 0.99999998412, respectively. Genetic comparisons revealed that genetic homogeneity existed in similar ethno origin or geographic origin populations. This is a pioneering genetic investigation using the Microreader™ 19X ID System kit in the population of Sierra Leone.