Assessment of phylogenetic structure of Berber-speaking population of Azrou using 15 STRs of Identifiler kit

Received 29 April 2009; received in revised form 12 August 2009; accepted 16 October 2009. published online 07 December 2009.

Abstract

Allele frequencies for 15 STR autosomal loci of Identifiler kit (D8S1179, D21S11, D7S820, CSF1PO, D3S1358, TH01, D13S317, D16S539, D2S1338, D19S433, vWA, TPOX, D18S51, D5S818 and FGA) in the Moroccan population of Berber-speaking of Azrou, were assessed from a sample of 201 unrelated individuals. Markers D18S51, D2S1338, FGA and D21S11 present the highest power of discrimination (PD) values while D21S11 was the most polymorphic locus in the studied population. The phylogenetic tree established among worldwide populations, shows that Berber-speaking population of Azrou was so close to the Berber-speaking population of Asni but also to the Arab-speaking population of southern Morocco. Nevertheless, a significant distance was observed between populations of Azrou and Bouhria even they share the same dialect (Amazigh) and belong to the same geographical area (Morocco). The 15 STR loci studied appear to be highly discriminating, thus providing a powerful tool for forensic applications, paternity investigation, individual identification and anthropological studies.

Keywords: Berber-speaking, Azrou, STRs, Allele frequencies, Phylogenetic tree

a Laboratory of Anthropogenetics and Physiopathology, Department of Biology, University of Chouaïb Doukkali, Faculty of Sciences, El Jadida, Morocco

b Immunology and Biochemistry Laboratory (Forensic Genetic Unit), Mohammed V Agdal University, Faculty of Sciences, Rabat, Morocco

c Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Pasteur, Luis Pasteur Place 1, Casablanca, Morocco

d Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Casablanca, Morocco

Corresponding author. Mobile: +212 679827887.

PII: S1344-6223(09)00337-X

doi:10.1016/j.legalmed.2009.10.004

12 of 12