Geographic distribution of Y-STR haplotypes and Y-haplogroups among Miyazaki Prefecture residents

Abstract

Many unidentiˆed bodies are expected to be discovered during a major disaster. Therefore it is necessary to establish a technique of identity estimation from the DNA of the dead person. Y-STR haplotype is genetically same among male relatives unless a genetical mutation occurs, and it is expected that the same Y-STR haplotype tends to be distributed in nearby residential areas. In this study, we analyzed Y-STR haplotypes and Y-haplogroups from 1,702 samples mainly collected from Miyazaki Prefecture to examine whether the geographic origin can be estimated. Yhaplogroup tended to be distributed diŠerently between inside and outside of Miyazaki Prefecture. Some speciˆc Y-STR haplotypes were intensively distributed in the southern and northern parts of Miyazaki Prefecture. These ˆndings are thought to lead to the construction of a geographic origin estimation system in Miyazaki Prefecture, and are expected to be used in disaster victim identiˆcations and criminal investigations in the future.