Wan, Y., Monaghan, B.M., and P.J. Newall
Centre of Forensic Sciences, Toronto, Canada

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Automated fluorescence detection of short tandem repeats (STRs) is rapidly becoming the approach of choice in forensic DNA analysis. It combines the speed and sensitivity of PCR, with enhanced discriminating power that exceeds that of other PCR-based systems. This is, in large measure, because a number of STR loci may be coamplified (multiplexed) in the same reaction tube. Allele distributions were compiled for several racial groups representative of the population of the province of Ontario, including individuals of Caucasian, Black, East-Indian and Oriental descent. This preliminary data depicts racial differences in allele frequencies and suggests that these loci will provide a useful addition to the battery of DNA tests, currently in use at the Centre of Forensic Sciences (CFS).