DNA amplification is known to be the most expensive step during forensic DNA analysis. This study evaluated the half-reaction amplification protocol (12.5 µL PCR product) using DNA amplification kits from Promega PowerPlex® (PowerPlex® 18D System, PowerPlex ®21System, PowerPlex® Fusion System and PowerPlex® Y23 System), which might aid in reducing sample analysis cost by half and allow the analysis of more samples. A sensitivity study (15 samples) along with testing of various blood stain samples (n=100) that were submitted to the Medico-Legal Directorate laboratory for DNA testing was accomplished to compare the DNA profiles resulting from half-reaction volume procedure to those with full-reaction volume procedure, using three differed methods along with standard protocol to evaluate the effect of half reaction volume with some variables. Results demonstrated the use of half-reaction amplification protocol preceded by washing step for all aforementioned DNA amplification kits gave a robust and reliable amplification result that aid to increase the number of samples analyzed and decreased the test cost for each kit without compromising the quality of 3DNA profiles obtained.

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Background Y-chromosome STRs are valuable in the forensic identification of male DNA from sexual assault cases, and they are used to link families through genetic genealogy. Materials and methods For Y-STR analysis, 1032 male blood samples were used in this study, direct PCR technique was used for DNA amplification using the PowerPlex® Y23 System, and then PCR product was run with Genetic Analyzer, and the data were analyzed with the Gene Mapper ID Analysis Software. Frequency-based statistical analysis was calculated with GenAlEx 6.5-Genetic Analysis. Results One hundred and eighty-five alleles were detected at the 23 Y-STR loci in 1032 samples. Alleles frequency ranged from 0.002 to 0.813 and the highest allele frequency registered (0.813) for allele 11 at locus DYS392, and the mean haplotype diversity was 0.616 ± 0.027. New variants were registered for DYS458 locus. Conclusion The present study established the genetic information obtained by using the PowerPlex® Y23 System for the Iraqi population and also created a database of 23 Y STR markers in this population.

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