Usefulness of autosomal STR polymorphisms beyond forensic purposes: data on Arabic- and Berber-speaking populations from central Morocco

Abstract

Background: This work describes, for the first time, the profile of Middle Atlas Berbers and Arabic-speaking central Moroccans for 15 autosomal STR loci widely used in forensic sciences.

Aim: The main objectives were to determine the degree of heterogeneity among different Moroccan samples to identify geographic or linguistic patterns and to evaluate the usefulness of forensic STRs in anthropological studies.

Subjects and methods: Blood samples were collected from 71 Arabic-speakers and 75 Berbers from the regions of Doukkala (central-west coast) and Khenifra (Middle Atlas), respectively. The AmpFlSTR Identifier kit was used to genotype 15 autosomal STR in both samples.

Results: Middle Atlas Berbers showed slightly higher genetic variation values compared to Arabic-speakers, both in the number of alleles and heterozygosity. In order to assess population relationships, data from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar, Palestine, Syria, South-Spain and Turkey were included in the analysis. Within Morocco, genetic distances followed a clear geographic pattern. In the Arabic-speaking sample the genetic proportion of 'Arabian' admixture was estimated in 13%.

Conclusion: The low value of admixture suggests that the Arabization of Morocco had a reduced demographic impact, which should be taken with caution because it is based on autosomal STRs with low inter-population variation levels.