Comparative study of STR loci for typing old skeletal remains with modified protocols of AmpFlSTR Identifiler and AmpFlSTR MiniFiler STR Kits

Abstract

This study highlights a comparative study of short tandem repeat (STR) loci with modified protocols of AmpFlSTR Identifiler and AmpFlSTR MiniFiler STR Kits for typing 27 old skeletal remains collected from 100–1000-year-old mass graves in Pakistan. DNA profiles were obtained from minute quantities of DNA (even from ≤ 10 pg/μL) with modified protocols of these kits, which is a significant achievement in this study. Consensus profiles were produced for each bone sample. A comparison was carried out between Identifiler and Minifiler successfully genotyped STR loci. Full concordance was perceived in 97.33% (146/150) of the compared STR loci, while discordant STR loci were 2.67% (4/150) of the total successfully genotyped STR loci due to either or both allele drop-out or drop-in. Finally, it was observed that the AmpFlSTR MiniFiler kit promoted the recovery of locus/alleles that failed to type with the AmpFlSTR Identifiler kit and more informative DNA profiles were obtained from old skeletal remains with the AmpFlSTR MiniFiler STR kit compared with the AmpFlSTR Identifiler STR kit.