An evaluation of rapidly mutating Y-STR multi-allelic markers

Multi-allelic Y chromosome short tandem repeats (Y-STRs) have been avoided in forensic applications due to high level of complexity involved in the interpretation of these markers. Because of such reason Y-STR multi-allelic markers have less representation in literature compared to Y-STR single-allelic markers. However these markers were proven to be highly polymorphic previously such as DYS464. In the recent discovery of the 13 rapidly mutating Y-STRs there were four multi-allelic markers including DYF387S1, DYF399S1, DYF403S1 and DYF404S1. In all subsequent studies these markers were always showing the highest diversity across the 13 RM Y-STRs. In this study these markers were investigated individually in 361 male individuals from United Arab Emirates. Each marker was analyzed using previously published primers sets. The potential forensic application value of these markers was evaluated using both conservative (C-type) and expanded (E-type) approaches.