CARACTERIZAÇÃO GENÉTICA DE 12 LOCI STRs DO CROMOSSOMO X NA POPULAÇÃO BRASILEIRA

Abstract

Database construction with allelic and genotypic frequencies of STRs has a significant impact on the processes of human identification of different populations. Brazil already has a database of allelic and genotype frequencies of the markers of the autosomal chromosomes and markers of the Y chromosome. However, there are few studies of allelic and genotype frequencies for markers of the X chromosome. These markers have a high discrimination power and have a high rate of resolution in forensic situations, and genetic linkage analysis. The objective of this study was to estimate, in a Brazilian population, allelic and genotypic frequencies, observed in 12 STR markers of the X chromosome, aiming the consolidation of a population database with applications in genetic linkage research. For this, 1,190 genetic profiles of individuals not genetically related and submitted to genetic linkage tests from all regions of Brazil were analyzed. The samples were genotyped using the Investigator® Argus X-12 system (Qiagen, Germany). Capillary electrophoresis was performed on ABI 3500 gene analyzer. Allele frequencies were analyzed using Genetix 4.05.2 and Alerquin ® software and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was analyzed using GenePop 4.1.3 and Alerquin® software. Allele and genotype frequencies were obtained for the 12 STRs of the X chromosome, the 15 allele of the DXS7423 locus was the most frequent, presenting a value corresponding to 0.40 in the female sex and 0.44 in the male sex. However, several alleles in all markers presented frequencies lower than 0.01, being considered rare in the population. No Deviation of Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium was observed in the marker set when analyzed simultaneously. The DXS10135 locus had a higher expected heterozygosity than the other loci for females, with a frequency of 0.9445. The observed heterozygosity also presented variation regarding the values found, from 0.9160 to 0.6803. Thus, the Argus X-12 system was informative in the Brazilian population and, therefore, a useful tool in forensic practice, particularly in inconclusive cases and in cases of kinship involving high complexity.