Analysis of penta D (15q) and penta E (21q) STR polymorphism in a southern Italian population sample

ABSTRACT: Allele and genotype frequency data for two STR (pentanucleotide repeats) loci, penta D (15q) and penta E (21q), were obtained from a population study on a sample of 134 unrelated and healthy inhabitants from the province of Messina (Eastern Sicily). After DNA extraction and amplification by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), PCR products were vertically electrophoresed on ultrathin-layer polyacrilamide denaturing gels and revealed by silver staining. 31 different genotypes and 12 different alleles were observed for penta D (with a frequency of 22% for the most common allele in the sample) and, respectively, 65 different genotypes and 16 different alleles were observed for penta E (with a frequency of 17% for the most common alleles in the sample). Some statistical parameters of forensic interest were also calculated. A chi-square analysis demonstrated that both loci met Hardy-Weinberg expectations.