Expansion of the Philippine Autosomal Short Tandem Repeat Population Database for DNA-Based Paternity Testing
Sheena Marie B. Maiquilla, Jazelyn M. Salvador, Gayvelline C. Calacal,
Frederick C. Delfin, Kristina A. Tabbada, Henry B. Perdigon, Minerva S. Sagum,
Miriam Ruth M. Dalet and Maria Corazon A. De Ungria
DNA Analysis Laboratory, Natural Sciences Research Institute,
University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ABSTRACT
Recent developments in forensic DNA technology have led to the expansion of the Philippine reference database of autosomal Short Tandem Repeat (aSTR) DNA markers currently being used by the DNA Analysis Laboratory, Natural Sciences Research Institute of the University of the Philippines for DNA-based paternity testing. A total of 502 unrelated individuals from different regional centers of the Philippines were analyzed at 15 aSTR DNA markers, which include the 13 DNA markers that comprise the Combined DNA Identification System (CODIS) of the US Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). Population statistical parameters were calculated and determined. Expansion of the population database resulted in the detection of additional alleles of the markers included in the database, increased power of discrimination and power of paternity exclusion compared to a smaller-sized Philippine database (n=100) that was reported previously (De Ungria et al. 2005; Salvador et al. 2007).
INTRODUCTION
DNA typing is the most powerful tool for paternity determination. DNA-based paternity testing uses highly polymorphic autosomal Short Tandem Repeat (aSTR) DNA markers which facilitates the discrimination of a father from a non-father. In 2007, the Supreme Court promulgated the Rule on DNA Evidence that prescribed the use of an appropriate reference population database in determining the weight of DNA evidence. If an alleged father is not excluded, the weight of matching DNA expressed as a Probability . . . . . . . . .
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