Y-STR Haplotyping in French Immigrants of Maghreb Origin: Drop of Diversity and Implications on the Matching Probability and the Assignment of Ethnic Affiliation

We reported the Y-STR "minimal haplotypes" of 46 unrelated donors of Maghreb origin residing in Corsica (France). The observed haplotype diversity was 3.9-9.3% lower than in the source ethnic groups (Moroccan and Tunisian arabs) and unique haplotypes were 3.2-8.6% less. Matching probabilities augmented by 0.7 to 5.3 times and private haplotypes decreased by 37.9-41.9%. The drop of diversity makes it necessary to increase the number of investigated loci when immigrants with Maghreb ancestry are considered as source of DNA evidence for personal identification, paternity exclusion, and ethnic affiliation.