Y-STR variation in Albanian populations: implications on the match probabilities and the genetic legacy of the minority claiming an Egyptian descent.
Y chromosome variation at 12 STR (the Powerplex® Y system core set) and 18 binary markers was investigated in two major (the Ghegs and the Tosks) and two minor (the Gabels and the Jevgs) populations from Albania (Southern Balkans). The large proportion of haplotypes shared within and between groups makes the Powerplex 12-locus set inadequate to ensure a suitable power of discrimination for the forensic practice. At least 85% of Y lineages in the Jevgs, the cultural minority claiming an Egyptian descent, turned out to be of either Roma or Balkan ancestry. They also showed unequivocal signs of a common genetic history with the Gabels, the other Albanian minority practising social and cultural Roma traditions.
Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Diagnostic and Laboratory Services and Legal Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. gianmarco.ferri@unimore.it
Gianmarco
G
Ferri
Sergio
S
Tofanelli
Milena
M
Alù
Luca
L
Taglioli
Erjon
E
Radheshi
Beatrice
B
Corradini
Giorgio
G
Paoli
Cristian
C
Capelli
Giovanni
G
Beduschi
D000415:Albania; D041322:Chromosomes, Human, Y; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D004534:Egypt; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020080:Tandem Repeat Sequences