Y-Chromosome STRs

Y-chromosome STRs are demonstrating value in the forensic identification of male DNA from sexual assault cases. Other applications for Y-STRs include tracing paternal lineages to aid in missing persons investigations and historical studies and to help link families through genetic genealogy.

General Information

• Y STR Positions along Chromosome

• Y Chromosome STR Fact Sheets (updated 1/08/2009)

• Y Chromosome STR References

• SRM 2395 (Human Y-Chromosome DNA Profiling Standard Reference Material)

• Review article on Y-STRs and Y-SNPs: Butler, J.M. (2003) Forensic Sci. Rev. 15(2): 91-111.

• State of the Y-Chromosome for Human Identity Testing: John Butler talk at Canadian Forensic DNA Technology Workshop (June 8, 2005)

• Y-STR Nomenclature Explanations; see DNA Commission of the ISFG recommendations

  • Butler, J.M., Kline, M.C., Decker, A.E. (2008) Addressing Y-chromosome short tandem repeat (Y-STR) allele nomenclature. Journal of Genetic Genealogy 4(2): 125-148.--see also editorial: http://www.jogg.info/42/files/editorial.pdf and interview: http://www.jogg.info/42/files/Interview.pdf

• Y-GATA-H4 nomenclature differences

• Y-STR Variant Alleles; see also http://www.yhrd.org/index.html (under Mutation section)

Commercial Y-STR Kits

• PowerPlex^® Y (Promega Corporation)

• AmpFlSTR^® Yfiler™ (Applied Biosystems)

• DYSplex 1, DYSplex2 (Serac, Bad Homburg, Germany)

• Mentype^® Argus Y-MH (Biotype, Dresden, Germany)

Haplotype Databases

• YHRD 3.0 Y Chromosome Haplotype Reference Database: http://www.yhrd.org/index.html
  • 7 loci haplotype (DYS19, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393): 68108 haplotypes
  • 9 loci haplotype (+ DYS385a/b): 66312 haplotypes
  • 11 loci haplotype (+ DYS438, DYS439): 39604 haplotypes
  • 12 loci haplotype (+ DYS437): 17119 haplotypes
  • 17 loci haplotype (+ DYS448, DYS456, DYS458, DYS635, YGATAH4): 13089 haplotypes

• U.S. Consolidated Y-STR Database (13,906 haplotypes with 11 loci): http://www.usystrdatabase.org/

  • ReliaGene (3,406 haplotypes with 11 loci): http://www.reliagene.com/index.asp?menu_id=rd&content_id=y_frq

  • PowerPlex^® Y Haplotype Database (4,004 haplotypes with 12 loci): http://www.promega.com/techserv/tools/pplexy/

  • Yfiler Haplotype Database (3,561 haplotypes with 17 loci): http://www.appliedbiosystems.com/yfilerdatabase/

• Genetic Genealogy: FamilyTree DNA Y Search (66,925 records with 12, 25, 37, or 67 loci): http://www.ysearch.org/

• Genetic Genealogy: DNA Heritage Ybase (13,955 haplotypes with up to 49 loci): http://www.ybase.org/

• Genetic Genealogy: Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation (>30,000 haplotypes with >7 loci): http://www.smgf.org

Y Chromosome Links

• Y-STR Haplotype Reference Database: http://www.yhrd.org/index.html

• Department of Human Genetics at the Leiden University: http://www.humgen.nl/fldo/

• The Y Chromosome Consortium: http://ycc.biosci.arizona.edu/

• Genetic Genealogy: Family Tree DNA: http://www.familytreedna.com

• Genetic Genealogy: Relative Genetics: http://www.relativegenetics.com

• Genetic Genealogy: DNA Heritage: http://www.dnaheritage.com

• Genetic Genealogy: Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation: http://www.smgf.org

• Genetic Genealogy: Oxford Ancestors: http://www.oxfordancestors.com/

• Genetic Genealogy: African Ancestry: http://www.africanancestry.com/

• Genetic Genealogy: Trace Genetics: http://www.tracegenetics.com/

• Genetic Genealogy: GeneTree DNA Testing Center: http://www.genetree.com/

• Genetic Genealogy: DNA Fingerprint: http://www.dna-fingerprint.com/

• Genetic Genealogy: Ethnoancestry: http://www.ethnoancestry.com/index.html

• Genetic Genealogy: GeoGene: http://www.geogene.com/highres/home.html

• National Genographic Project: https://www3.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/index.html

• International Society of Genetic Genealogy Y-DNA Testing Comparison Chart: http://www.isogg.org/ydnachart.htm

NIST Human Identity Project Team Y-Chromosome Work

• NIST Y STR 20plex Information

• SRM 2395 (Human Y-Chromosome DNA Profiling Standard Reference Material)

Some of our presentations on Y-chromosome work at NIST (see http://www.cstl.nist.gov/biotech/strbase/NISTpub.htm for full listing)

• California Department of Justice DNA Lab Seminar (March 7, 2007; Richmond, CA)

• NEAFS Y-Chromosome and Mitochondrial DNA Workshop (November 1, 2006; Rye Brook, NY)

• AAFS Workshop: Y-STRs and mtDNA (February 20, 2006; Seattle, WA)

• State of the Y-Chromosome (June 8, 2005; Toronto, Canada)

• International Y-Users Group IV (November 20, 2004; Berlin, Germany)

• AAFS 2004 Y Chromosome Workshop (February 17, 2004; Dallas, TX)

• ISFG 2003 talk on Y-SNPs and poster on DYS464 (September 12, 2003; Archacon, France)

• International Y-Users Group III (November 7, 2002; Porto, Portugal)

• AAFS 2002 Y Chromosome Workshop presentation (February 12, 2002; Atlanta, GA)

• ISFG 2001 Talk (August 30, 2001; Munster, Germany)

• Cambridge Healthtech Institute's DNA Forensics meeting (June 1, 2000; Springfield, VA) Download PowerPoint (40 slides)

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Last Updated: 02/05/2009