VNTR locus D1S80: allele frequencies and genotype distribution in the region of Düsseldorf

Abstract

Hypervariable loci within the human genome are useful tools in several disciplines: for example in forensic medicine (paternity testing and forensic identification). One of these genetical markers is located at chromosome 1 and is called D1S80 (MCT118). The genotype distribution and the allele frequency of the VNTR locus D1S80 have been studied in a population of 378 unrelated Germans living at Düsseldorf. The determination of genotypes has been carried out by using the polymerase chain reaction and subsequent analysis of the amplified products by polyacrylamide electrophoresis followed by silver staining. The data demonstrate that the locus is highly polymorphic with an observed heterozygosity of 75.66%. The frequency distribution found does not meet Hardy-Weinberg expectations. We think that this is not astonishing because we found only 80 of the possible 231 phenotypes (alleles 16-34, 36-37, without anodal and cathodal variants). So before using the D1S80 data in forensic analyses and paternity tests a larger data base has to be established. The data of the Düsseldorf sample are compared with data of studies on other populations.