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DNA profiling of individuals with short tandem repeat (STR) markers is commonly used in forensic genetics and paternity testing. This technique can be used as well for the establishment of family relation for immigration purposes. Extended relationship analysis however can be more problematic than parentage testing in that there are no obligatory alleles that make it possible to absolutely exclude a biological relationship. In these cases genetic evidence is based solely on biostatistical analysis. We have therefore analysed the validity of STR markers and biostatistics using empiric and simulated data. Based on pair-analysis of related and unrelated individuals, the following four hypotheses were tested: (A) unrelated, (B) siblings, (C) cousin, (D) uncle/aunt/half-siblings. Fifty-two empirical and 10,000 simulated data-pairs were analysed with a maximum of 26 STR markers/pair. Our results demonstrate that unrelated individuals can be separated from siblings using the results of 15 STR markers by following the maximum likelihood principle. The differentiation between 2nd- or 3rd related individuals (group C and D) are limited. In these cases extended analysis with 26 STR markers improved the results. In conclusion, STR-profiling is an accurate and effective technology to test for family relation. In cases of pair-analysis of single individuals, extended genetic testing can be required to clearly assign non-relationship. |
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