Mitochondrial control region sequences from an African American population sample.

Entire mitochondrial control region data were generated for 248 African American individuals, which had been previously typed for 15 autosomal STRs [J.M. Butler, R.

Mitochondrial control region sequences from a Vietnamese population sample.

Entire mitochondrial control region data were generated for 187 individuals from Vietnam. These samples have been previously typed for 16 autosomal short-tandem repeats (STRs) [1].

Toward increased utility of mtDNA in forensic identifications.

The utility of mtDNA in forensic identifications is limited by its low power of discrimination and the absence of high quality mtDNA databases. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the control region outside of hypervariable regions I and II (HVI/HVII), and in the coding region of the mtDNA genome, can provide additional discrimination in mtDNA testing. We have identified particularly useful SNP sites via high throughput sequencing of the entire mtDNA genome.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms over the entire mtDNA genome that increase the power of forensic testing in Caucasians.

We have sequenced the entire mtDNA genome (mtGenome) of 241 individuals who match 1 of 18 common European Caucasian HV1/HV2 types, to identify sites that permit additional forensic discrimination. We found that over the entire mtGenome even individuals with the same HV1/HV2 type rarely match. Restricting attention to sites that are neutral with respect to phenotypic expression, we have selected eight panels of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites that are useful for additional discrimination.