Genetic structure and forensic characterization of 36 Y-chromosomal STR loci in Tibeto-Burman-speaking Yi population

Male-specifically inherited Y-STRs have been widely used in population genetics and forensic investigations.

We genotyped and analyzed Y chromosome haplotypes of 408 unrelated Tibeto-Burman-speaking Yi male individuals from Guizhou using Goldeneye^® Y-PLUS kit. Population comparisons between the Guizhou Yi and 67 reference groups were performed via the AMOVA, MDS, and phylogenetic relationship reconstruction.

A total of 389 alleles and 396 haplotypes could be detected, and the allelic frequencies ranged from 0.0025 to 0.9875. The haplotype diversity, random match probability, and discrimination capacity values were 0.9999, 0.0026, and 0.9900, respectively. The gene diversity (GD) of 36 Y-STR loci in the studied group ranged from 0.0248 (DYS645) to 0.9601 (DYS385a/b). Our newly genotyped Yi samples show a close affinity with other Tibeto-Burman speaking groups in China and Southeast Asia.

The population stratification was almost consistent with the geographic distribution and language-family, both among Chinese and worldwide ethnic groups. Our data may provide useful information for paternal lineage in the forensic application and population genetics, as well as evidence for archaeological and historical research.