Analysis of Alu Insertion Polymorphism in South Morocco (Souss): Use of Markers in Forensic Science

Abstract

The aim of the present study is the assessment of the utility of Alu insertions in forensic DNA typing within the South Moroccan population. We report on a comprehensive study of seven loci of interest due to the insertion or the dele- tion of human-specific Alu fragments. The study was carried out on 215 unrelated healthy individuals, including five Souss Berber groups and one Saharawi. The accurate genotype frequency data and other genetic parameters of forensic in- terest were obtained. The frequencies of the Alu insertion in the total sample population were found to be 0.176 (ACE), 0.455 (TPA25), 0.196 (PV92), 0.697 (APO), 0.267 (FXIIIB), 0.373 (B65) and 0.804 (HS 3.23). The power of discrimina- tion ranged from 0.4540 for ACE to 0.6223 for TPA25. The power of exclusion for these seven loci ranged from 0.1240 to 0.1865. The combined discrimination power and the joint power of exclusion were respectively 0.9959 and 0.6910. The results indicated that the application of Alu insertion polymorphism will assist in forensic identification and paternity test- ing that is performed by current STR technology.