Allele frequencies of 14 STR loci in the population of Malta.

ABSTRACT

Allele frequencies of 14 STR loci (D13S317, D16S539, D2S1338, vWA, TPOX, D18S51, D5S818, FGA, D8S1179, D21S11, D7S820, CSF1PO, TH01 and D3S1358) observed in the population of Malta are being reported. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification using the AmpFl STR Identifiler kit was performed in a random sample of 157 subjects (314 chromosomes). Markers D2S1338, D18S51 and FGA had the highest power of discrimination (PD) values while TPOX was the least informative marker. Allele frequencies observed in the Maltese population were also compared with those of other populations from the Mediterranean region, Europe and Africa. Our data is useful for anthropological and other comparative studies of populations and is powerful for forensic and paternity testing in the Maltese islands.