OBJECTIVETo obtain the data in polymorphism distribution of the five short tandem repeat (STR) loci: D18S979, D11S2014, D18S548, D1S1667 and GATA164F07 of Chinese Han population in Chengdu, and to evaluate their usefulness in the field of species specificity in forensic science.

METHODSPCR, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and silver staining techniques were used to analyze the DNA samples from 100 unrelated individuals of Chinese Han ethnic group in Chengdu. Twelve different animals: monkey, pig, dog, bull, goat, chicken, duck, eel, mudfish, rabbit, guinea pig and mouse were selected as controls in this study for evaluating the species specificity of the five STR loci.

RESULTSSix alleles and twelve genotypes were observed in D18S979. Five alleles and eleven genotypes were observed in D11S2014. Five alleles and thirteen genotypes were observed in D18S548. Seven alleles and nineteen genotypes were observed in D1S1667. Six alleles and fourteen genotypes were observed in GATA164F07. The genotype distributions of the five loci were analyzed by some related software and no deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed. Evaluated by way of using different animals as controls, monkey had amplification products at the extra-typing field of D18S979, D11S2014 and D1S1667. Bull, dog and eel had amplification product at typing field of D18S979, and pig, duck, mouse and rabbit had weak product. Bull had weak product at the typing field of D18S548. Dog, goat and eel had product at the typing field of D1S1667. Dog had weak product at the typing field of GATA164F07. Mudfish, chicken and guinea pig had no amplification product at the five loci.

CONCLUSIONThese data indicate that D18S979, D18S548, D1S1667 and GATA164F07 are highly polymorphic and D11S2014, D18S548 and GATA164F07 can play a key role in species identification.