The genetic evidence for human origin of Jivaroan shrunken heads in collections from the Polish museums.

Advances in forensic identification using molecular genetics are helpful in resolving some historical mysteries. The aim of this study was to confirm the authenticity of shrunken-head artifacts exhibited by two Polish museums. Shrunken heads, known as tsantsas, were headhunting trophies of South American Indians (Jivaroan).

Mutations of microsatellite autosomal loci in paternity investigations of the Southern Poland population.

In this study, germline mutations were analyzed for 26,040 parent-child allelic transfers among subjects referred to paternity testing and originating from the Slavonic population of the Southern Poland. Mutation rates were estimated for 15 autosomal microsatellite loci: D8S1179, D21S11, D7S820, CSF1PO, D3S1358, TH01, D13S317, D16S539, D2S1338, D19S433, vWA, TPOX, D18S51, D5S818 and FGA. There were 35 mutation events observed at 11 from 15 analyzed loci.

[Identification of rare genetic variants at DXS10074, DXS10079, DXS10146 and DXS10148 loci of investigator argus X-12 multiplex in the south Polish population].

In recent years, the analysis of X-linked short tandem repeats (X-STR), beside autosomal and Y-chromosomal STR loci, has become widely used in forensic genetic investigations. The usefulness of X-STRs markers in forensic medicine is confirmed by their high biostatistical parameters obtained for different populations. Such population studies performed on particular ethnic groups allow for demonstrating the presence of, rare genetic variants that are not included in the allelic ladders of commercially available multiplex kits.