title: Genetic polymorphisms of 15 STR loci in the population of the island of Cres (Croatia).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The population of the island of Cres presents one of the few persisting Eastern Adriatic isolates and is thereby suitable for human population differentiation analyses.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to analyse the genetic structure of the island of Cres with respect to its eight sub-populations and to compare the genetic variation of the island of Cres with other Eastern Adriatic islands and the Croatian mainland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen AmpFlSTR identifiler loci were analysed in a sample group of 122 unrelated autochthonous individuals from the island of Cres, Croatia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis of STR polymorphisms revealed genetic homogeneity among sub-populations of the island of Cres and small but significant levels of genetic heterogeneity among geographically distant Eastern Adriatic islands.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite a considerable degree of genetic homogeneity among the studied Eastern Adriatic islands, small but significant differentiation between distant islands indicates geographic sub-structuring which follows the isolation by distance model. This study is supportive of the notion that STR markers are useful for genetic differentiation between larger and geographically more distant regions.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Anthropological Research, Gajeva 32, Zagreb, Croatia. natalija.novokmet@inantro.hr
authors.forename: Natalija
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Novokmet
authors.forename: Damir
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marjanović
authors.forename: Vedrana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Skaro
authors.forename: Petar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Projić
authors.forename: Gordan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lauc
authors.forename: Blaženka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Grahovac
authors.forename: Saša
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ostojić
authors.forename: Miljenko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kapović
authors.forename: Pavao
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rudan
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D017523:Croatia; D005787:Gene Frequency; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic