Abstract: Seventeen human Y-chromosomal STR loci were selected to investigate the genetic polymorphisms of males in the Yunnan Luxi Han population, and to evaluate their forensic application values and genetic relationships with 16 other populations. The selected Y-STR markers included in the AmpF?STR?Yfiler Amplification Kit were amplified in 156 unrelated Luxi Han males, and the PCR products were analyzed on the ABI Prism?3100 Genetic Analyzer. The AMOVA (analysis of molecular variance) method was applied to measure the genetic distance between populations. A total of 154 haplotypes were identified, of which 152 were unique. The observed haplotypes diversity value was 0. 9998. The allele diversity values for each locus ranged from 0.3901 (DYS437) to 0.9632 (DYS385a/b). Among the domestic populations, the genetic distance between the Luxi Han and Hunan Han was the nearest (0. 005), whereas the genetic distance between the Luxi Han and Minnan Han was the farthest (0. 035). Compared with populations outside of China, the genetic distance between Luxi Han and the Singapore Chinese was the closest (0.015), whereas the genetic distance between the Luxi Han and Japanese and Malaysia Indians was the farthest (0. 060). The combined Y-chromosome STR polymorphisms provide a powerful discrimination tool for forensic applications, and the study of genetic diversity among different populations is useful for the research of their origins, migrations and their interrelationships.

Key words: Y chromosome; STR; Haplotypes; Genetic polymorphism; Han