Genetic polymorphisms of 16 X-STR loci in the Hani population from Southwest China

X chromosomal short tandem repeats (X-STRs) have the characteristics of both autosomal and uniparental genetic markers and have been shown to be particularly useful in forensic casework. However, relevant research or reports have not focused on X-STRs in the Hani population. To investigate the genetic variation and forensic efficiency of 16 X-STR loci in the Hani ethnic minority, we calculated the allele frequencies and forensic parameters of 451 (116 males and 335 females) unrelated healthy Hani individuals from Yunnan Province, Southwest China. All these loci are highly polymorphic in Hani individuals in Yunnan Province except DXS6800. The combined power of discrimination in males (PD(M)) and power of discrimination in females (PD(F)) were found to be 0.999 999 998 433 993 and 0.999 999 999 999 998, respectively. Furthermore, a population genetic structure investigation between the Yunnan Hani population and another 18 populations was performed using a principal component analysis, multidimensional scaling plot and neighbouring-joining phylogenetic tree and the findings illustrated that neighbouring populations and different nationalities in the same area appeared to have a closer evolutionary relationship. This study provides the first batch of X chromosome genetic polymorphism data of the Hani population in Yunnan Province, Southwest China and enriches the reference database of the Chinese minority population. KEY POINTS: This is the first study of X-STR in the Hani population. We calculated the allele frequencies and forensic parameters of 451 unrelated healthy Hani individuals from Yunnan Province, Southwest China. All these loci are highly polymorphic in Hani individuals in Yunnan Province except DXS6800. The genetic relationship between the Hani and other 18 nationalities was analyzed. This study provides the first batch of X chromosome genetic polymorphism data of the Hani population in Yunnan Province, Southwest China and enriches the reference database of the Chinese minority population.