Determination of sibship by microsatellite typing in a deficiency case of disputed maternity

In a disputed maternity case where the father and his two wives were dead and only the six children were available for testing, we analyzed 24 conventional hemogenetic markers and 11 microsatellite (STR) loci. Putting all the results together, we were able to distinguish sibship from half-sibship. Of all the systems tested, STRs were most informative. The present study demonstrates the power of STRs as a tool for solving a deficiency case.