Haplotype analysis for Irish ancestry

Area of Science:

• Forensic genetics
• Population genetics
• Human genetics

Background:

• Y-chromosome haplotype analysis is crucial in forensic science for identifying male DNA in complex samples and determining the number of male contributors.
• Its application extends to biogeographic studies for ancestry correlation with founder populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of Y-chromosome analysis in a "dragnet" approach for cold case investigations, similar to its use in solving sex assault and homicide cases.
• To investigate the potential for identifying an ancestral Irish genetic "footprint" and its correlation with the O'Brien surname and Dal Riata haplotype.

Main Methods:

• Forensic haplotype analysis of the male Y chromosome.
• DNA profiling from trace amounts of male DNA in the presence of excess female DNA.
• Biogeographic and population genetic analyses to identify founder groups and ancestral haplotypes.

Main Results:

• The study supports the potential of Y-chromosome analysis as a "dragnet" tool for identifying unique haplotypes in forensic investigations.
• Multiple founder group origins in Ireland and England were identified.
• Three samples exhibited the Dal Riata ancestral haplotype, indicating a correlation with ancestral Irish ancestry, but not conclusively with the O'Brien surname.

Conclusions:

• Y-chromosome haplotype analysis is a valuable tool for forensic investigations, particularly in identifying multiple male donors and in cold case scenarios.
• The study demonstrates a correlation between Y-chromosome haplotypes and ancestral Irish populations, including the Dal Riata, but further research is needed to confirm surname-specific links.