Geographic distribution of Y-STR haplotypes and Y-haplogroups among Miyazaki Prefecture residents

Many unidentified bodies are expected to be discovered during a major disaster. Therefore it is necessary to establish a technique of identity estimation from the DNA of the dead person. Y-STR haplotype is genetically same among male relatives unless a genetical mutation occurs, and it is expected that the same Y-STR haplotype tends to be distributed in nearby residential areas. In this study, we analyzed Y-STR haplotypes and Y-haplogroups from 1,702 samples mainly collected from Miyazaki Prefecture to examine whether the geographic origin can be estimated. Y-haplogroup tended to be distributed differently between inside and outside of Miyazaki Prefecture. Some specific Y-STR haplotypes were intensively distributed in the southern and northern parts of Miyazaki Prefecture. These findings are thought to lead to the construction of a geographic origin estimation system in Miyazaki Prefecture, and are expected to be used in disaster victim identifications and criminal investigations in the future.