Autosomal-STR based genetic structure of Chinese Xibe ethnic group and its relationships to various groups

The short tandem repeat (STR) is one of the most widely used genetic makers in forensic DNA labs worldwide. In the present study, we investigated the genetic structure of 19 autosomal STRs and 1 sex-determining locus (amelogenin) in the Xibe ethnic group in China, as well as its relationships to other groups. One hundred and ninety-five alleles were detected in 222 unrelated healthy Xibe individuals. The values of combined power of discrimination and probability of exclusion of all 19 STR loci were 0.99999999999999999999996912 and 0.999999997538, respectively. Principal component analysis revealed relationships between the Xibe group and other groups, which showed a relatively close genetic relationship between the Xibe and Korean groups.