Identification of skeletal remains in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the homeland war - a 30-year review.

Over the past 30 years, forensic experts from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have embraced advanced technologies and innovations to enable great efficacy and proficiency in the identification of war victims. The wartime events in the countries of former Yugoslavia greatly influenced the application of the selected DNA analyses as routine tools for the identification of skeletal remains, especially those from mass graves. Initially, the work was challenging because of the magnitude of the events, technical aspects, and political aspects.

Implementing Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) in Clinical Practice: Advantages, Challenges, and Future Perspectives.

The integration of whole genome sequencing (WGS) into all aspects of modern medicine represents the next step in the evolution of healthcare. Using this technology, scientists and physicians can observe the entire human genome comprehensively, generating a plethora of new sequencing data. Modern computational analysis entails advanced algorithms for variant detection, as well as complex models for classification.

Croatian genetic heritage: an updated Y-chromosome story.

Aim: To analyze an additional set of ˝Y-chromosome genetic markers to acquire a more detailed insight into the diversity of the Croatian population.

Methods: A total of 518 Yfiler Plus profiles were genotyped. Allele frequencies, haplotype frequencies, and haplotype diversity were calculated by using the STRAF software v.

Influence of genetic substructuring of statistical forensic parameters on genetic short tandem repeat markers in the populations of Southeastern Europe.

Aim: To investigate the influence of specific intrapopulation genetic structures on interpopulation relationships. Special focus was the influence of island population isolation on the substructuring of the Croatian population, and the influence of regional population groups on the substructuring of Southeast European populations.

Methods: Autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) loci were analyzed by using four forensic parameters: matching probability (PM), power of discrimination (PD), power of exclusion (PE), and polymorphic information content (PIC) on a sample of 2877 unrelated participants of both sexes.

Genetic sub-structuring of Croatian island populations in the Southeastern European context: a meta-analysis.

Aim: To use the method of meta-analysis to assess the influence of island population isolation on the sub-structuring of the Croatian population, as well as the influence of regional population groups on the sub-structuring of the Southeastern European population with regard to basic population genetic statistical parameters calculated by using STR locus analysis.

Methods: Bio-statistical analyses were performed for 2877 unrelated participants of both sexes from Southeastern Europe. Nine autosomal STR loci (D3S1358, vWA, FGA, TH01, TPOX, CSF1PO, D5S818, D13S317, and D7S82) were analyzed by using standard F-statistics and population structure analysis (Structure software).

Haplogroup Prediction Using Y-Chromosomal Short Tandem Repeats in the General Population of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Human Y-chromosomal haplogroups are an important tool used in population genetics and forensic genetics. A conventional method used for Y haplogroup assignment is based on a set of Y-single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers deployed, which exploits the low mutation rate nature of these markers. Y chromosome haplogroups can be successfully predicted from Y-short tandem repeat (STR) markers using different software packages, and this method gained much attention recently due to its labor-, time-, and cost-effectiveness.

Genomic analyses inform on migration events during the peopling of Eurasia.

High-coverage whole-genome sequence studies have so far focused on a limited number of geographically restricted populations, or been targeted at specific diseases, such as cancer. Nevertheless, the availability of high-resolution genomic data has led to the development of new methodologies for inferring population history and refuelled the debate on the mutation rate in humans. Here we present the Estonian Biocentre Human Genome Diversity Panel (EGDP), a dataset of 483 high-coverage human genomes from 148 populations worldwide, including 379 new genomes from 125 populations, which we group into diversity and selection sets.

Genetic structure and admixture between Bayash Roma from northwestern Croatia and general Croatian population: evidence from Bayesian clustering analysis.

The European Roma represent a transnational mosaic of minority population groups with different migration histories and contrasting experiences in their interactions with majority populations across the European continent. Although historical genetic contributions of European lineages to the Roma pool were investigated before, the extent of contemporary genetic admixture between Bayash Roma and non-Romani majority population remains elusive. The aim of this study was to assess the genetic structure of the Bayash Roma population from northwestern Croatia and the general Croatian population and to investigate the extent of admixture between them.

Identification of human remains from the Second World War mass graves uncovered in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Aim: To present the results obtained in the identification of human remains from World War II found in two mass graves in Ljubuški, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Methods: Samples from 10 skeletal remains were collected. Teeth and femoral fragments were collected from 9 skeletons and only a femoral fragment from 1 skeleton.

Estimation of human age using N-glycan profiles from bloodstains.

Protein glycosylation is the most common epiproteomic modification involved in numerous physiological and pathological processes. Previous studies reported strong associations between human plasma N-glycans and age, prompting us to evaluate the potential application of this biological phenomenon in the field of forensics. Blood from 526 blood donors from different parts of Croatia was collected on bloodstain cards during the period 2004-2007 and stored at 4°C for 6-9 years.

A recent bottleneck of Y chromosome diversity coincides with a global change in culture.

It is commonly thought that human genetic diversity in non-African populations was shaped primarily by an out-of-Africa dispersal 50-100 thousand yr ago (kya). Here, we present a study of 456 geographically diverse high-coverage Y chromosome sequences, including 299 newly reported samples. Applying ancient DNA calibration, we date the Y-chromosomal most recent common ancestor (MRCA) in Africa at 254 (95% CI 192-307) kya and detect a cluster of major non-African founder haplogroups in a narrow time interval at 47-52 kya, consistent with a rapid initial colonization model of Eurasia and Oceania after the out-of-Africa bottleneck.

Standing at the gateway to Europe--the genetic structure of Western balkan populations based on autosomal and haploid markers.

Contemporary inhabitants of the Balkan Peninsula belong to several ethnic groups of diverse cultural background. In this study, three ethnic groups from Bosnia and Herzegovina - Bosniacs, Bosnian Croats and Bosnian Serbs - as well as the populations of Serbians, Croatians, Macedonians from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegrins and Kosovars have been characterized for the genetic variation of 660 000 genome-wide autosomal single nucleotide polymorphisms and for haploid markers. New autosomal data of the 70 individuals together with previously published data of 20 individuals from the populations of the Western Balkan region in a context of 695 samples of global range have been analysed.

Genetic polymorphisms of 15 STR loci in the population of the island of Cres (Croatia).

Background: The population of the island of Cres presents one of the few persisting Eastern Adriatic isolates and is thereby suitable for human population differentiation analyses.

Aim: The aim of this study was to analyse the genetic structure of the island of Cres with respect to its eight sub-populations and to compare the genetic variation of the island of Cres with other Eastern Adriatic islands and the Croatian mainland.

Subjects And Methods: Fifteen AmpFlSTR identifiler loci were analysed in a sample group of 122 unrelated autochthonous individuals from the island of Cres, Croatia.

Forensic efficiency parameters for the 15 STR loci in the population of the island of Cres (Croatia).

Forensic parameters based on 15 AmpFISTR Identifiler short tandem repeat (STR) loci (D8S1179, D21S11, D7S820, CSF1PO, D3S1358, TH01, D13S317, D16S539, D2S1338, D19S433, VWA, TPOX, D18S51, D5S818 and FGA) were evaluated in the sample of 122 unrelated, autochthonous, adult individuals from the Island of Cres (Croatia). PCR amplification was performed with the AmpFISTR Identifiler PCR Amplification Kit and the amplified products were separated and detected using the ABI 3130 DNA genetic analyzer. The agreement with Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) was confirmed for all loci (p > 0.

Identification of skeletal remains of Communist Armed Forces victims during and after World War II: combined Y-chromosome (STR) and MiniSTR approach.

Aim: To report on the use of STR, Y-STRs, and miniSTRs typing methods in the identification of victims of revolutionary violence and crimes against humanity committed by the Communist Armed Forces during and after World War II in which bodies were exhumed from mass and individual graves in Slovenia.

Methods: Bone fragments and teeth were removed from human remains found in several small and closely located hidden mass graves in the Skofja Loka area (Lovrenska Grapa and Zolsce) and 2 individual graves in the Ljubljana area (Podlipoglav), Slovenia. DNA was isolated using the Qiagen DNA extraction procedure optimized for bone and teeth.

DNA identification of skeletal remains from the World War II mass graves uncovered in Slovenia.

Aim: To present the joint effort of three institutions in the identification of human remains from the World War II found in two mass graves in the area of Skofja Loka, Slovenia.

Methods: The remains of 27 individuals were found in two small and closely located mass graves. The DNA was isolated from bone and teeth samples using either standard phenol/chloroform alcohol extraction or optimized Qiagen DNA extraction procedure.

Allele frequencies for 15 short tandem repeat loci in representative sample of Croatian population.

Aim: To study the distribution of allele frequencies of 15 short tandem repeat (STR) loci in a representative sample of Croatian population.

Methods: A total of 195 unrelated Caucasian individuals born in Croatia, from 14 counties and the City of Zagreb, were sampled for the analysis. All the tested individuals were voluntary donors.

Population data at two short tandem repeat loci D2S1338 and D19S433 in the sample of multinational Bosnia and Herzegovina residents.

We have analyzed the distribution of allele frequencies at two short tandem repeats loci (D2S1338 and D19S433) in a multinational sample of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) residents. A total of 110 unrelated male and female individuals (Caucasians) from different regions of B&H were sampled for the analysis. We ensured that the sample reflected approximate proportional participation of the three main ethnic groups in the population of B&H (Bosniacs-Muslim [45%], Serbs [34%], Croats [21%]).

Twelve-year experience in identification of skeletal remains from mass graves.

Aim: To present twelve-year (1993-2005) experience in identification of human remains found in mass graves in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH), as well as remains that presumably belonged to Croatian citizens given by Serbia and Montenegro. The unique experience of identification of more than a thousand of skeletal samples is valuable for better organization of post-mortem identifications.

Methods: Standard forensic methods and methods based on DNA analysis were used for identification of human remains from mass graves.