Allele frequencies of 23 short tandem repeat loci in the Vietnamese Kinh population

The analysis of short tandem repeat (STR) loci using PCR followed by capillary electrophoresis (CE) remains the gold standard in forensic genetics and human identity testing. However, the quality of the STR allele frequency databases for Vietnamese Kinh population is not assured and the number of investigated STR loci in the researches is limited. To increase the reliability of allele frequency databases and the associated statistical parameters used for personal identification, paternity testing, and forensics, genetic polymorphisms at 23 STR loci were examined in a large sample comprising 1000 unrelated Vietnamese Kinh individuals. Our dataset was submitted to STRidER (STRs for Identity ENFSI Reference Database) for quality control. The data were verified and successfully passed the inspection of STRidER (Reference No. STR000345). No significant deviation from the HardyWeinberg equilibrium was found for the observed loci after applying the Bonferroni correction. All loci showed a high degree of genetic polymorphism, the most informative locus among the study panel was Penta E. The combined power of discrimination (CPD) and the combined power of exclusion (CPE) for all 23 STR loci were 1 and 0.9999999992, respectively. We aimed to identify allele frequencies which could be used for forensic applications and found several distinct alleles upon comparing our results with those of previous STR loci studies in the Vietnamese population. Taken together, these results indicate that these 23 STR loci are suitable genetic markers for forensics, personal identification, and paternity testing in the Vietnamese Kinh population. •23 short tandem repeats are useful genetic markers for Kinh individuals in Vietnam.•STR analysis identified distinct and rare alleles.•Penta E is a highly polymorphic loci among the Kinh in Vietnam.