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DNA typing of 15 short tandem repeat (STR) loci included in the AmpFlSTR Identifiler™ PCR amplification kit (Applied Biosystems), was carried out in three Egyptian populations of different ethnic groups: the Berbers from the Siwa oasis (in the North-Western Egyptian desert), the Muslims and the Copts from Adaima (Upper Egypt). A total of 297 individuals were typed. After Bonferroni's correction, no deviations from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium were observed for all samples at the 15 STR loci. All loci are highly polymorphic and population differentiation tests showed that 7, 10 and 8 out of 15 loci have significant differences between the Berbers and the Muslim samples, between the Berbers and the Copts, and between the two samples from Adaima, respectively. Comparative analyses between our population data and other geographically related populations gathered from the literature were performed.

The allele frequency distribution of 15 short tandem repeat (STR) loci contained in the AmpF l STR Identifiler™ PCR Amplification Kit (Applied Biosystems), was determined in 114 individuals from Andalusia (province of Huelva), in the southernmost part of the Iberian Peninsula. After Bonferroni's correction, no deviations from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium were observed for all samples at the 15 STR loci. All loci are highly polymorphic. The aim of the study was to obtain accurate allele frequencies relevant for applications in forensics and population genetics. Comparative analyses between our population data and other population samples gathered from the literature are also presented.

The allele frequency distribution of 15 short tandem repeats (STR) loci contained in the AmpFlSTR Identifiler™ PCR Amplification Kit (Applied Biosystems), was determined in two Berber populations from Asni and Bouhria, in Central and Eastern Morocco, respectively. A total of 209 individuals were typed. No deviations from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium were observed for Asni at the 15 STRs loci whereas for the Bouhria samples, two loci (D5S818 and TH01) showed significant departures from Hardy–Weinberg expectations (after Bonferroni's correction). All loci are highly polymorphic and population differentiation tests showed that the Moroccan samples from Asni and Bouhria have significant differences in 4 out of 15 loci (D21S11, D7S820, D16S539 and TPOX). The aim of the study was to obtain accurate allele frequencies relevant for forensic applications. Comparative analyses between our population data and other population samples gathered from the literature are also presented.

Seventeen Y-chromosomal short tandem repeats (STRs) (DYS392, DYS437, DYS448, GATAH4.1, DYS389II, DYS439, DYS635, DYS393, DYS438, DYS391, DYS389I, DYS390, DYS19, DYS458, DYS456 and DYS385a,b) were typed in DNA samples from 96 unrelated Moroccan men from the Figuig oasis. Fifty-two haplotypes were identified, of which 36 were unique. The overall haplotype diversity was 0.966, and the discrimination capacity was 0.542. Population comparisons with previously published data revealed significant genetic heterogeneity between the Figuig Moroccans and other North African populations. Results also showed that the minimal haplotype 11-30-13-10-13-25-15 (DYS392-DYS389II-DYS393-DYS391-DYS389I-DYS390-DYS19) was the most frequent haplotype observed in Figuig men.

The mitochondrial DNA variation of 295 Berber-speakers from Morocco (Asni, Bouhria and Figuig) and the Egyptian oasis of Siwa was evaluated by sequencing a portion of the control region (including HVS-I and part of HVS-II) and surveying haplogroup-specific coding region markers. Our findings show that the Berber mitochondrial pool is characterized by an overall high frequency of Western Eurasian haplogroups, a somehow lower frequency of sub-Saharan L lineages, and a significant (but differential) presence of North African haplogroups U6 and M1, thus occupying an intermediate position between European and sub-Saharan populations in PCA analysis. A clear and significant genetic differentiation between the Berbers from Maghreb and Egyptian Berbers was also observed. The first are related to European populations as shown by haplogroup H1 and V frequencies, whereas the latter share more affinities with East African and Nile Valley populations as indicated by the high frequency of M1 and the presence of L0a1, L3i, L4*, and L4b2 lineages. Moreover, haplogroup U6 was not observed in Siwa. We conclude that the origins and maternal diversity of Berber populations are old and complex, and these communities bear genetic characteristics resulting from various events of gene flow with surrounding and migrating populations.

The GM immunoglobulin allotype polymorphism was investigated in four Moroccan populations: three Berber groups from Khenifra (Middle Atlas), Amizmiz (High Atlas), and Bouhria (Beni Snassen) and one Arabic-speaking sample from the Doukkala area (Abda, Chaouia, Doukkali, and Tadla districts in south-central Morocco). In order to characterize the genetic relationships between the populations, our results were compared with those obtained for other North African groups (from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Niger) and for Middle-East Africans, sub-Saharans, and Southwest Europeans. Based on GM haplotype frequencies, Factorial Correspondence Analyses, FST significance testing, and hierarchical analyses of variance were performed. Our results reveal that Moroccan populations have heterogeneous GM profiles with high frequencies of GM haplotypes in Europeans (from 76% for Doukkala to 88% for Bouhria) and relatively high frequencies of GM haplotypes in sub-Saharans (from 11% for Bouhria to 23% for Amizmiz). The genetic diversity observed among Moroccans is not significantly correlated with either geographic or linguistic differentiation. In spite of their cultural and historical differentiation, we did not discover any significant genetic differences between Berbers and Arabic-speakers from Morocco. However, when large geographical areas are considered, our population samples are integrated in the North African GM variation, significantly distant from sub-Saharan groups but with a close relationship with Southwest European populations. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 18:23–34, 2006. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.