Inferring genetic sub-structure in the population of Argentina using fifteen microsatellite loci.

Abstract: Argentina is considered to be genetically heterogeneous, with important Native American and European genetic contributions to its extant population. In order to test if genetic sub-structure does exist in Argentina, a set of 15 autosomal markers were analyzed in 5282 individuals inhabiting ten provinces. Allele frequencies, Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) and genetic distance, determined by F _st, were established between the sampled populations. Our results indicate that the genetic distances are non-significant between most of the sampled populations, being Salta the only one with significant differences with almost all other populations (F _st: 0.00486–0.01627, p: 0.0413–0.0002). Comparison between the ten populations investigated herein with already published data sets of six additional provinces was performed. This analysis showed that the genetic distances are non-significant between these sixteen provinces, with the exception of Salta sample. These results might suggest that genetic sub-structure cannot be detected by the autosomal STRs in the population of Argentina. Accordingly, a database of the whole country might be used for the correct interpretation of paternity testing and forensic casework results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]