title: Inferring the population of origin of DNA evidence within the UK by allele-specific hybridization of Y-SNPs.
abstract: Marked differences in Y-SNP allele frequencies between continental populations can be used to predict the biogeographic origin of a man's ancestral paternal lineage. Using 627 samples collected from individuals within the UK with pale-skinned Caucasian, dark-skinned Caucasian, African/Caribbean, South Asian, East Asian or Middle Eastern appearance we demonstrate that an individual's Y-SNP haplogroup is also strongly correlated with their physical appearance. Furthermore, experimental evaluation of the Marligen Signet Y-SNP kit in conjunction with the Luminex 100 detection instrument indicates that reliable and reproducible haplogrouping results can be obtained from 1 ng or more of target template derived from a variety of forensic evidence types including, blood, saliva and post-coital vaginal swabs. The test proved highly male-specific with reliable results being generated in the presence of a 1000-fold excess of female DNA, and no anomalous results were observed during degradation studies despite a gradual loss of typable loci. Hence, Y-SNP haplogrouping has considerable potential forensic utility in predicting likely ethnic appearance.
authors.affiliation: The Forensic Science Service, R&D, Trident Court 2960, Solihull Parkway, Birmingham Business Park, Solihull B37 7YN, UK. jon.wetton@fss.pnn.police.uk
authors.forename: Jon H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wetton
authors.forename: Kam W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.forename: Haroon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D041322:Chromosomes, Human, Y; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000379:methods*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006238:Haploidy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019849:Sex Determination Processes; D013045:Species Specificity; D020080:Tandem Repeat Sequences; D006113:United Kingdom