Multiplex DNA typing of short-tandem-repeat loci on the Y chromosome

To facilitate evolutionary and forensic studies of DNA polymorphisms on the Y chromosome, we devised a multiplex amplification procedure for short-tandem-repeat (STR) loci. Four tetranucleotide STR loci (DYS19, DYS390, DYS391, and DYS393) were simultaneously amplified with FAM-labeled primers and genotypes were determined with an automated DNA sequencer. We typed 162 males from three U.S. populations (African-Americans, European-Americans and Hispanics) and found that the haplotype diversities range from 0.920 to 0.969. This quadruplex system provides a facile means of genotyping these Y chromosome STRs, and should be useful in population genetic and forensic applications.