Genetic diversity and forensic statistical support for the 12 X-STR markers in the Malaysian Indian population using Qiagen Investigator® Argus X-12 QS kit

Abstract

X-chromosome short tandem repeats (X-STRs) are useful for human identification, especially in complex kinship scenarios. Since forensic statistical parameters vary among populations and the X-STRs population data for the diverse population of Peninsular Malaysia's are unavailable, this attempt for Indians (n = 201) appears forensically relevant to support the 12 X-STRs markers' evidential value for human identification in Malaysia. The Qiagen Investigator® Argus X-12 QS kit showed that DXS10135 was the most polymorphic locus with high genetic diversity, polymorphism information richness, heterozygosity, and exclusion power. Based on allele frequencies, the strength of discrimination and mean exclusion chance (MEC_Krüger, MEC_Kishida, MEC_Desmarais, and MEC_DesmaraisDuo) values for the Malaysian Indians were ≥0.999997790686228. As for haplotype frequencies, the overall discrimination power and mean exclusion probability (MEC_Krüger, MEC_Kishida, MEC_Desmarais, and MEC_DesmaraisDuo) were ≥0.9999984801951. The genetic distance, neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree, and principal component analysis also supported the evidential value of the 12 X-STRs markers for forensic practical caseworks in Malaysia.