Croatian national reference Y-STR haplotype database

Abstract

A reference Y-chromosome short tandem repeat (STR) haplotype database is needed for Y-STR match interpretation as well as for national and regional characterization of populations. The aim of this study was to create a comprehensive Y-STR haplotype database of the Croatian contemporary population and to analyze substructure between the five Croatian regions. We carried out a statistical analysis of the data from previously performed genetic analyses collected during routine forensic work by the Forensic Science Centre "Ivan Vučetić". A total of 1,100 unrelated men from eastern, western, northern, southern and central Croatia were selected for the purpose of this study. Y-STRs were typed using the AmpFISTR Yfiler PCR amplification kit. Analysis of molecular variance calculated with the Y chromosome haplotype reference database online analysis tool included 16 population samples with 20,247 haplotypes. A total of 947 haplotypes were recorded, 848 of which were unique (89.5%). Haplotype diversity was 0.998, with the most frequent haplotype found in 9 of 1,100 men (0.82%). Locus diversity varied from 0.266 for DYS392 to 0.868 for DYS385. Discrimination capacity was 86.1%. Our results suggested high level of similarity among regional subpopulations within Croatia, except for mildly different southern Croatia. Relative resemblance was found with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. Whit Atheys' Haplogroup Predictor was used to estimate the frequencies of Y-chromosome haplogroups. I2a, R1a, E1b1b and R1b haplogroups were most frequent in all Croatian regions. These results are important in forensics and contribute to the population genetics and genetic background of the contemporary Croatian population.

Ancestry and admixture of a southernmost Chilean population: The reflection of a migratory history

“…It is noteworthy to point out that three individuals had a haplogroup corresponding to Q-M242, but not the Q-M3 haplogroup distinctive to America. These three individuals had both a Croatian surname and selfdeclared Croatian origin, consistent with the presence of markers from the corresponding area of Europe, albeit at a lower frequency (Francalacci & Sanna, 2008;Mrši c et al, 2012). Two of these individuals had mitochondrial haplogroups of European origin and overall European ancestry greater than 95%.…”

“…The frequency of this haplogroup varies from 20.5 to 38.4% in different areas of that country but is always present in higher proportions than R1b. Furthermore, the Punta Arenas sample included individuals with haplogroup I2a1, which has been found at frequencies of up to 65.9% in Croatia (Bara c et al, 2003;Francalacci & Sanna, 2008;Mrši c et al, 2012;Perici c et al, 2005;Primorac et al, 2011). These haplogroups have been identified at similar frequencies in previous studies of the city (Toscanini et al, 2016), and are consistent with the regional demographic history, which has included important waves of immigration from Croatia since the 1890s (Martini c Beros, 1977, 1999cMartini c Beros, 1999b;Mesari c Žabc ˇi c & Peri c, 2006;Nock, 1990;Ortega Perrier, 1980).…”

Impact of Donor Age, Gender and Handling Time on the DNA Concentration Left on Different Surfaces

“…It seems that trace DNA has several sources: corneocytes [1], anucleate keratinocytes which contain residual concentration of DNA and are daily sloughed off the skin's surface in large numbers and transferred from palms onto a touched surface by sweat [18], other types of nucleated cells [2,15,19], and sweat that contains cell-free DNA [3,20].…”

“…In forensic casework, geneticists are working every day with trace DNA found on different items [1][2][3]. As we already know, the duration of contact between a perpetrator and an item is always questionable, depending on the item and the nature of the contact [4,5].…”

Croatian Genetic Heritage: Renewed Y Chromosome Story Two Decades Later

“…The main aim of this research is to update information about Croatian Y chromosome diversity by using additional Y STR loci to compare new results with the previously published results generated using Y-STR and Y-SNP markers (11)(12)(13)(14) and to restart the Croatian Y chromosome settlement scenario established in one of our previously published studies (15). Additionally, one of the goals was to analyze the subpopulation genetic structure of five Croatian regional subpopulations (with local center in Osijek, Pula, Varaždin, Split, and Hvar Island) identifying the most common haplogroups, as well as genetic differences between these five subpopulations, and analyzing potential (dis)similarity of those regional subpopulations with neighboring countries.…”