Background: Recently, there are few genetic studies on the Kingdom of Bahrain, which is a small archipelago positioned in the Arabian Gulf. There are several tools used in population genetics and human identification. One of them is the X-chromosomal short tandem repeats (X-STRs). Methods: For this study, 156 buccal swabs were collected using cotton swabs from nonrelated Bahraini males. QIAsymphony SP instrument was used for genomic DNA extraction and purification and Investigator Quantiplex HYres Kit was used for DNA quantification in the 7500 Real-Time PCR System. ABI 3500xl Genetic Analyzer was used for detection. Analysis was done using multiple statistical software to obtain allele and haplotypes' frequencies based upon the available four clusters of linkage groups as well as different forensic and population parameters. Results: Results indicated the diversity of the Bahraini population in terms of high power of discrimination (PD) and probability of match (PM) values. The combined values of each forensic parameter such as combined PD in males (cPD M ), mean exclusion chance (cMEC) Krüger, cMEC Kishida, and cMEC Desmarais as well as cMEC Desmarais Duo were 0.9999983, 9999979, 0.9999939, 0.9999996, and 0.9999514, respectively, based on the allele and haplotype frequencies. No shared profiles were observed. The number of nonstandard alleles and null alleles was obtained, and more profoundly in locus DXS10148. We have constructed a phylogeny of these data as well as a multidimensional scale to analyze the interpopulation diversity between Bahraini population and other neighboring populations, and our findings reflected the geographical and social background of the region. Overall, the results confirmed the importance of X-STRs in discriminating between individuals among Bahraini population and in establishing DNA databases for forensic and kinship studies.

To date, there are very limited genetic studies conducted on the Kingdom of Bahrain and this is one of the first studies conducted to evaluate the 12 X-STRs included in the Investigator X-12 QS kit. Bahrain is a small archipelago located in the Arabian Gulf. X-STRs are very informative in population genetics studies, human identification and complex kinship analysis. One hundred and fifty-six (156) buccal swabs were collected using cotton from non-relatives' Bahraini males from four different regions of Bahrain. DNA was processed using QIAsymphony SP instrument following quantification with Investigator Quantiplex HYres Kit in the 7500 Real-Time PCR System and detected in ABI 3500xl Genetic Analyzer. Analysis was done using different statistical softwares to obtain allele frequencies and haplotype frequencies-based upon the available four clusters of Linkage Groups (LGs)-and the forensic parameters.. Results indicated the diversity of the Bahraini population in terms of high Power of Discrimination (PD) and Probability of Match (PM) values obtained. The combined values of each forensic parameter such as cPD M , Mean exclusion chance (CMEC) Krüger, C MEC Kishida, and C MEC Desmarais as well as C MEC Desmarais Duo, were 0.9999983, 9999979, 0.9999939, 0.9999996 and 0.9999514 respectively based on the allele and haplotype frequencies. No shared profiles were observed. Number of non-standard alleles and null samples were obtained with more profoundly in locus DXS10148. We have conducted phylogenetic tree as well as multidimensional scale to analyze the Interpopulation diversity between Bahraini population and nine other populations and found out they reflect the geographical and social background of the region. Overall, the results confirm the importance of X-STRs in discriminating between individuals among Bahraini population and in establishing DNA databases for forensic and kinship studies.