The Open Forensic Science Journal

2008, 1 : 19-25
Published online 2008 June 19. DOI: 10.2174/1874402800801010019
Publisher ID: TOFORSJ-1-19

Forensic Evaluation and Population data of 11 Y-STRs in Moroccan immigrants in Belgium

G. Mertens , S. Rand , E. Jehaes , G. Leijnen , W. Jacobs and E. Van Marck
Forensic DNA Laboratory, Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, B- 2650 Edegem, Belgium.

ABSTRACT

Aim:

To establish a database of Y chromosomal haplotypes of the Moroccan immigrant population of Belgium.

Methods:

A sample of 109 random Moroccan male immigrants bearing different surnames and living in Belgium were typed for the 11 Y chromosome short tandem repeats DYS19, DYS385a-b, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS438, DYS439 and DYS437.

Results:

A total of 58 different haplotypes were observed. Among these, 44 were unique, 11 occurred twice, 2 were counted 4 times and 1 was observed in - surprisingly - 35 males. The resulting haplotype diversity was 0.8942 and the discrimination capacity was 0.5321.

Conclusion:

The most frequent haplotype is common in North Africa and the even higher frequency in this sample is suggestive of a founder effect of this migrant population, combined with endogamy and inbreeding.