Forensic genetic value of a 27 Y-STR loci multiplex (Yfiler® Plus kit) in an Italian population sample

The analysis of Y chromosome short tandem repeat (Y-STR) haplotypes provides important information that can be used for investigative purposes and in population studies. The Yfiler® Plus PCR Amplification kit (Yfiler® Plus, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA) allows the multiplex amplification of 27 Y-STRs, including 7 rapidly mutating markers (RM Y-STRs). In this study, 203 unrelated males from Italy, which were subdivided into 4 different geographical groups (North, Center, South and Sardinia) were analyzed. Several intra-population diversity indexes were computed and compared to those obtained using only loci either from the minimal haplotype or the 17-plex (Yfiler®, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA). In addition, inter-population diversity analysis (RST) among the four Italian samples was performed. The same analysis was also used to compare the Italian sub-sets to other European populations where the Yfiler® Plus haplotype frequency data were available. The Sardinians were significantly differentiated from the other three Italian groups, thus requiring a specific sub-national Y-STR haplotype database. The Yfiler® Plus kit showed a high power of discrimination which is useful for criminal investigations, principally due to the inclusion of RM Y-STRs.