Technical note: developmental validation of a novel 41-plex Y-STR system for the direct amplification of reference...

Area of Science:

• Forensic Genetics
• Human Population Genetics
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Y-chromosome Short Tandem Repeats (Y-STRs) are crucial for male lineage tracing.
• Existing Y-STR kits have limitations in discriminating closely related individuals and constructing detailed phylogenetic trees.
• The development of novel Y-STR multiplex systems is essential for advancing forensic identification and population studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and validate the SureID® PathFinder Plus, a new 6-dye, 41-plex Y-STR system.
• To assess the performance of the 41-plex system for forensic applications, including familial searching and phylogenetic analysis.
• To evaluate the utility of rapidly mutating and low-medium mutation Y-STR loci for enhanced discrimination.

Main Methods:

• Developmental validation of the 41-plex Y-STR system, including accuracy, stability, sensitivity, and reproducibility assessments.
• Analysis of Y-STR mutations using 754 DNA-confirmed father-son pairs.
• Testing the system's suitability for various forensic sample types and DNA mixtures.

Main Results:

• The SureID® PathFinder Plus system demonstrated high accuracy, reliability, and time-efficiency.
• The inclusion of 14 rapidly mutating Y-STR loci significantly improved discrimination among related individuals.
• The 10 low-medium mutation loci provided enhanced resolution for familial searching and Y chromosome phylogenetic construction.

Conclusions:

• The SureID® PathFinder Plus 41-plex Y-STR system is a powerful and informative tool for forensic databases.
• The kit is highly suitable for distinguishing related males and supporting familial searches.
• This novel system advances the capabilities of Y-STR analysis in forensic genetics and population studies.