Forensic and phylogenetic analyses among three Yi populations in Southwest China with 27 Y chromosomal STR loci.

We have analyzed the Y chromosome haplotypes of 510 non-related Yi males grouped in three Chinese provinces (Guizhou, Sichuan, and Yunnan) using the Yfiler® Plus Kit. A total of 484 haplotypes were detected, out of which 460 were unique. The observed haplotype diversity and discrimination capacity were 0.9998 and 0.9490, respectively. To investigate the genetic relationship of the studied population, multidimensional scaling (MDS) plot and neighbor-joining (NJ) tree phylogenetic analyses were constructed which demonstrated that the Y chromosome lineage among the Yi ethnicity was different.

Phylogenic analysis and forensic genetic characterization of Guizhou Miao tribes from 58 microareas via autosomal STR.

Genetic polymorphism of 17 autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) loci, included in the PowerPlex®18D amplification kit, were analyzed in Miao tribes from 58 different sampling microareas (N = 5255) of Guizhou as well as two cities (N = 151) of Hunan, China. Allele frequencies and forensic efficiency parameters were calculated. Moreover, comprehensive population genetic comparisons among 91 nationwide populations and 174 Asian populations were conducted based on raw genotype data and allele frequency data, respectively. Our results of forensic efficiency parameters showed that the panel was a robust tool in forensic individual identification and paternity cases for this population. Genetic affinities were observed among most of the Miao tribes revealed by multidimensional scaling plot, principal component analysis, and neighboring-joining tree. The genetic distance between Miao tribes and Han nationalities were varies by different geographical positions. Some of the Miao tribes were genetically closer to the Hmong-Mien populations living in southeastern contiguous regions and even the Indochina. The result coincided with the migration or reverse migration routes for Miao nationality in modern history. This study of the Miao tribes from plenty of microareas in Guizhou would be useful in reconstructing the population history and establishing a more comprehensive forensic reference database.