Allel frequency distribution of HumvWa locus in Çukurova region

ABSTRACT Allel Frequency Distribution of HumvWA Locus in Çukurova Region Short tandem repeat (STR) loci consist of tandemly repeated sequences, between 2 to 6 base pairs (bp) in length, which exhibit a high degree of polymorphism due to variation in the number of repeat units. The analysis of STR loci by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) is becoming the method of choise for forensic identification of biological body fluids and stains. The high abundance of STR loci in human genome has resulted in a wide choise of loci. The most useful marker for forensic analysis consist of repeat units of at least 4 bp since amplification artefacts due to enzyme slippage are reduced. In this study, allele frequencies for HumvWA locus has been determined in a population sample from Çukurova region using PCR. After horizontal discontinuos PAGE and silver staining 8 (13-20) common allele were identified for HumvWA in a sample of 110 unrelated individuals. According to x2 test performed with observed and expected phenotypes, no significant deviation from Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium was found for Çukurova population sample (x2= 8.9365, d.f= 14, p>0.05). The forensic efficiency of the HumvWA locus was obtained (observed heterozigosity= 0.7182, discrimination power= 0.92149 and mean exlusion change = 0.56822). It is determined that the frequencies of a PCR-based HumvWA locus from Çukurova region database can be used in identity testing. Key Words: Çukurova region, forensic efficiency, HumvWA, PCR, population genetics.