Genetic parameters of five new European Standard Set STR loci (D10S1248, D22S1045, D2S441, D1S1656, D12S391) in the population of eastern Croatia.

Aim: To establish allele frequencies and genetic parameters in eastern Croatia population and to compare them with those in other populations. The second aim was to compare the genetic profiles obtained with different forensic kits amplifying the same genetic markers.

Methods: Blood samples of 217 unrelated individuals from eastern Croatia were genotyped using AmpFlSTR NGM kit. Allele distribution and other genetic parameters were determined for 15 short tandem repeat (STR) loci, including the 5 loci recently added to the European Standard Set (ESS) of STR loci (D10S1248, D22S1045, D2S441, D1S1656, and D12S391). Ninety-six samples underwent duplicate analysis using AmpFlSTR Identifiler kit.

Results: Power of discrimination was highest for the two new ESS loci, D1S1656 (0.97254) and D12S391 (0.97339). Comparison of allele frequencies for 5 new ESS loci in our sample with previously published population data showed a significant difference from Maghreb population on D2S441 and from American Caucasian population on D1S1656. Comparison of allele frequencies for standard 10 STR loci with all the neighboring populations' data showed a significant difference only from Albanian population (on D2S1338, D18S51, and TH01). Discordant genotypes were observed in 5 (5.2%) samples at a single locus when amplified with both AmpFlSTR NGM and AmpFlSTR Identifiler kit.

Conclusion: New ESS STR loci are highly polymorphic and short, and therefore very useful for the analysis of challenging forensic samples. DNA samples purposed for establishing databases should be routinely amplified in duplicate.