Population genetic data for 23 STR loci of the Miskito ethnic group in Honduras

The Miskito constitute Honduras’s largest indigenous population (~ 80,000 individuals), yet population-specific genetic databases essential for accurate forensic analysis remain unavailable. Allele frequencies for 23 autosomal short tandem repeat loci were determined from 100 unrelated Miskito individuals (52 females, 48 males) from four settlements in Gracias a Dios department. DNA was amplified using the PowerPlex Fusion 6C System and analyzed by capillary electrophoresis. Statistical parameters were calculated using Arlequin v3.5.2.2 and Genepop v4.7.5. A total of 187 distinct alleles were observed (mean 8.13 ± 3.49 per locus). Expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.3872 (D2S441) to 0.9188 (SE33), with mean He = 0.7523. No locus deviated significantly from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium after Bonferroni correction (α = 0.0022). Linkage disequilibrium testing revealed no significant associations among the 253 locus pairs after Bonferroni correction (α = 0.0002). The combined match probability was less than 1 × 10 −15 , corresponding to a combined power of discrimination exceeding 99.9999%. The combined probability of exclusion reached 99.999%. AMOVA detected minimal population structure among settlements (FST = 0.003, p = 0.18). This first comprehensive genetic characterization of the Honduran Miskito population provides essential reference data for forensic casework and kinship analysis. Beyond its forensic utility, this dataset fills a long-standing gap in Central American population genetics and contributes to the comparative analysis of Chibchan-speaking populations of the isthmian corridor.