Ethnic Origin of Crime Scene Evidential Materials Determination in Three Main Ethno-linguistic Population Groups in Nigeria
Date
2017-05-10
Authors
Agbo, B.U.
Ebuehi, O.A.T.
Osuntoki, A.A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
SCIENCEDOMAIN international
Abstract
DNA analysis using autosomal short tandem repeat (microsatellite) polymorphism is a useful tool for
forensic purposes, such as individual identification, stain analysis and paternity testing. Analyses of
such materials are carried out by the comparison of profiles from questioned samples or crime
scene with those from suspects or victims or from database. In some instances, the profiles
generated will neither match that from suspects nor the database. The objective of the current study
is to identify population specific markers that will show distinct genetic variability among the three
main ethno-linguistic population groups in Nigeria. The profiles generated can be used to infer
ethnic origin of test samples from the populations in an ethnically blinded test.
Allele frequencies for each ethnic group from 315 unrelated individuals representing the three
populations; Ibo, Hausa and Yoruba were generated using 15 Microsatellite loci (STRs) from
Applied Biosystems. Multi-locus genotype frequencies were utilized for testing conformity with
Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Chi-square goodness of fit showed seven loci to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. However after Bonferoni correction all loci were found to be in conformity with Hardy-
Weinberg equilibrium.
The allele frequencies generated for each population were tested in the determination of ethnic
origin of twenty test samples randomly collected in an ethnically blinded test. The ethnic origins of
the twenty samples were correctly determined with 99.5% success, by using the principle that the
ratio of profile frequencies for the same profile in different ethnic groups is a likelihood ratio.
Description
Keywords
Research Subject Categories::NATURAL SCIENCES::Chemistry::Biochemistry , Short tandem repeat , genetic variation , ethno-linguistic group , forensic parameters , heterozygosity , homozygosity
Citation
B. U. Agbo, O. A. T. Ebuehi and A. A. Osuntoki. ARRB, 12(4): 1-8, 2017; Article no.ARRB.32783