Analysis of 27 STR markers of the chromosome Y in the population of the jungle from Peru

Abstract

Y-chromosome-specific short tandem repeat (Y-STR) markers reside on the non-recombinant portion of the Y chromosome, their inheritance is paternal, they are not detectable in female DNA. These properties make Y-STRs a useful tool in forensic investigations such as sexual assault, parenting, and other violent crimes; likewise they are also useful in genealogical and evolutionary studies. The objective of the research is to expand the scientific evidence of the distribution by region or country of the Y sex chromosome haplotypes. Similar studies in Peruvian populations are scarce due to the smaller number of Y-STR polymorphisms frequently used in Forensic and Population Genetics.

Material and method: In the investigation, 141 DNA samples from the jungle of Peru were analyzed, of which comprised of 104 samples from Iquitos region (Loreto), 29 samples from Awajun (Amazonas) and 8 samples from Tambopata (Madre de Dios). The samples were processed using direct PCR with the Yfiler™ Plus PCR Amplification kit for 27 STRs, the amplified products were analyzed by capillary electrophoresis on the Applied Biosystem™ 3500XL Genetic Analyzer, and the data obtained was imported into the GeneMapper® ID-X v1.5 software to generate the genetic profiles. With the results obtained, the statistical analysis and the population structure were carried out.

Results: Of the 141 samples, 106 unique haplotypes were observed. Gene diversities for each Y-STR marker ranged from .317 to .919. The haplotype diversity for the total sample was .9906. This study supports that the Y-STR haplotypes in this population are highly polymorphic in the analyzed population and, therefore, are very useful in forensic studies of human identification, as well as in population genetics when investigating groups or individuals from Latin America.

Resumen

Introducción: Los marcadores de repeticiones cortas en tándem del cromosoma Y (Y-STR) se ubican en la región no recombinante del cromosoma Y, su herencia es por vía paterna, no son detectables en el ADN femenino. Estas propiedades hacen de los Y-STR una herramienta útil en las investigaciones forenses, como las agresiones sexuales, paternidades y otros delitos violentos; asimismo son útiles en estudios genealógicos y evolutivos. El objetivo de la investigación es ampliar la evidencia científica de la distribución por regiones o país de los haplotipos del cromosoma sexual Y, estudios similares en poblaciones peruanas son escasas debido al número menor de polimorfismos Y-STR de uso frecuente en genética forense y de poblaciones.

Material y métodos: En la investigación se analizaron 141 muestras de ADN de la selva del Perú, de las que 104 muestras corresponden a la región de Iquitos (Loreto), 29 muestras son Awajun (Amazonas) y 8 muestras de Tambopata (Madre de Dios). Las muestras fueron procesadas empleando PCR directa con el kit Yfiler™ Plus PCR Amplification para 27 STR, los productos amplificados fueron analizados por electroforesis capilar en el AppliedBiosystem™ 3500XL GeneticAnalyzer y los datos obtenidos se importaron al software GeneMapper® ID-X v1.5 para generar los perfiles genéticos. Con los resultados obtenidos se realizó el análisis estadístico y la estructura poblacional.

Resultados: De las 141 muestras se obtuvieron 106 haplotipos únicos. La diversidad genética para cada marcador Y-STR estuvo entre 0,317 y 0,919. La diversidad haplotípica para la muestra total fue de 0,9906. El estudio registra que los haplotipos Y-STR estudiados presentaron elevado polimorfismo en la población analizada y, por lo tanto, son de gran utilidad en estudios forenses de identificación humana, así como en genética de poblaciones cuando se investigan grupos o individuos de América Latina.

Introduction

Y-chromosomal short tandem repeat (Y-STR) markers are found in non-recombinant regions of the Y-chromosome, and are relevant in forensics because of their paternal inheritance, detection in samples with combined DNA from more than 2 male individuals or combination with female DNA, even if they are found in very low amounts in female DNA. These properties make Y-STRs a useful tool in sexual assault investigations, paternity testing and other violent crimes.¹

The Americas was one of the last continents to be colonised by humans, probably by a small population 15,000 to 17,000 years ago. Today, however, it is home to great cultural and linguistic diversity.²

One of the most diverse countries in Latin America is Peru. The Amazon Region or jungle covers about 60% of the Peruvian territory. Its topography is predominantly flat. It is located to the east of the Andes Mountains and forms part of the " Hoya Amazónica.”³ The National Institute of Statistics and Information indicates that the indigenous population of the Peruvian Amazon is 332,975 inhabitants.⁴ There are 13 indigenous linguistic families living in the Amazon, which in turn are grouped into 60 ethnic groups. Of the 13 language families, Arawak comprises the majority of the indigenous population (38.6%) and Tacana the smallest (.2%).⁴ These regions are mostly inhospitable and, because of their culture, do not allow biological samples to be taken, and it is difficult to get them accepted for research studies.

In recent years, studies of autosomal STR markers in Peruvian populations have been appearing, finding studies in mestizo populations,5-8 a population from the Peruvian jungle.⁹ Studies have also focused on some ethnic groups in Peru such as the Aymara¹⁰ and with Y-STR in an Ashaninca (n = 54)¹¹ and Aymara (n = 90)¹² population with 27 Y-STR and other studies in which 23 Y-STR were analysed in a Chachapoyas (n = 68), Jíbaro (n = 23) and Huancas (n = 10),¹³ population, but no studies have been conducted in Peruvian jungle populations with a sample of more than 100 individuals and with 27 Y-STR. For this reason, the study carried out has increased the scientific evidence on the frequency distribution and behaviour of a number of Y-STR polymorphisms of consolidated use in forensic and population genetics in Peruvian populations that have been scarcely studied to date.

Material and methods

Samples and experiments

A total of 141 samples were collected from individuals living in the Peruvian jungle on FTA (Copan) cards. Of the total number of samples, 104 came from Iquitos (Department of Loreto; 3°45′19″S, 73°14′57″W), 29 from Awajun (Department of Amazonas; 4°34′59″S, 77°54 ′0″ W) and 8 from Tambopata (Department of Madre de Dios; 12°40'18.9" S 69°21.328' W) (Fig. 1). Only 8 individuals were sampled from Tambopata due to the familiarity that existed among its inhabitants, as well as its geographic isolation and difficulties in sampling. The inclusion criteria considered were: that there was no kinship between them, that they were men over 18 years of age and that they were born in the Peruvian jungle (with parents and grandparents from the jungle). Among the exclusion criteria taken into consideration were that they were immigrants from the coast or highlands of Peru, that they were related through the paternal line, with similar surnames, and that they had received a blood transfusion or bone marrow transplant in the last 6 months. Before participating in the study, individuals freely and voluntarily signed their informed consent.

Figure 1.

Populations and coordinates of the 141 samples collected. Iquitos (n = 104; Loreto, 3°45′19″S, 73°14′57″W), Awajun, (n = 29; Amazonas, 4°34′59″S, 77°54′0″ W) and Tambopata (n = 8; Madre de Dios, 12°40′18.9″ S 69°21.328′ W).

A 1.2 mm punch was extracted from each card and amplified by direct PCR using the Yfiler™ Plus PCR Amplification Kit (Life Technologies) following the manufacturer's instructions. The amplified products were analysed using capillary electrophoresis on the AppliedBiosystem™ 3500XL GeneticAnalyzer (Life Technologies) following the manufacturer's recommended protocol. After capillary electrophoresis, the data were imported into GeneMapper® ID-X v1.5 software to generate genetic profiles. The data were deposited in the database (accession number of the Awajun population: YA005891 and accession number of the Iquitos population: YA004763).

Statistical analysis

For the calculation of allele frequencies of the 27 Y-STRs, PowerStats V1.2 software was used on 23 STRs; for the markers DYS385a/b and DYF387S1 the "type" frequencies were calculated by the counting method. Genetic diversity (GD) and haplotype diversity (HD) were calculated with the following formulae GD = (n/n - 1) (1 - ΣPἰ2) and HD = (n/n - 1) (1 - ΣXἰ2), where Pἰ is the frequency of the ἰ allele, n is the number of samples analysed, Xἰ represents the calculated frequency of the ἰ haplotype.¹⁴ The probability of a random match (MP) was calculated as MP = ΣXἰ2 and the discriminating ability (DC) was obtained by dividing the number of different haplotypes observed and the total sum of the number of haplotypes identified. The haploid matching probability (HMP) was calculated with the formula HMP = 1 - HD. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) was used to obtain pairwise genetic distance (Rst) values between Y-STR data sets. The Rst values were then used for multidimensional scaling analysis (MDS). Rst and p-values between different populations were estimated by analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) and visualised in a multidimensional scaling (MDS) plot (accessed through YHRD).¹⁵

Results and discussion

Allelic frequencies, genetic diversity and allelic variation for the jungle population

This study analysed 141 samples of male individuals from the Peruvian jungle population. In all samples, all 27 Y-STRs provided typing results and no null alleles were observed. Allele frequencies (or types) for each locus in the combined dataset are shown in Table 1 and Table 2. The DYS391 and DYS437 markers had the lowest number of alleles (3 alleles), while the DYS385a/b marker had the highest number (25 types). GD values were between .3169 (DYS437) and .9192 (DYF387S1) and only 5 Y-STR loci had values below .5 (DYS437, DYS391, DYS438, DYS393 and DYS392). The 3 markers with the highest diversity, based on GD, were DYS449 (.8037), DYS385a/b (.8250) and DYF387S1 (.9192), while the lowest diversity was observed for marker DYS437 (.3169).

Table 1.

Allelic frequencies and genetic diversity of 23 Y-STR loci from the jungle population of Peru (n = 141).

Empty Cell	DYS576	DYS389I	DYS635	DYS389II	DYS627	DYS460	DYS458	DYS19	YGATAH4	DYS448	DYS391	DYS456	DYS390	DYS438	DYS392	DYS518	DYS570	DYS437	DYS449	DYS393	DYS439	DYS481	DYS533
9						00142					0,.709			.0780									0,0071
10						.6809			.1064		.7660			.0355									.0142
11		.0070922				.2979			.4752		.1631			.7730	.0355						.1064		.6028
12		.06382979				.0071		.1206	.3546					.1135	.0638					.0213	.5887		.3688
12.3									.0071
13	.0070922	.61702128						.6596	.0426						.0638					.7624	.2908		.0071
13.3									.0142
14	.0212766	.31205674					.0142	.1844				.0071			.7447			.8085		.1738	.0142
15	.02836879						.2624	.0142				.4397			.0922		.0142	.1773		.0426
16	.08510638						.3546	.0213				.3759					.3333	.0142
17	.09929078				.0071		.1844					.1702					.4468
18	.4964539				.0709		.0638			.0213		.0071					.1277
18.3										.0071
19	.19858156				.2057		.1135			.1773							.0496
20	.05673759		.0212766		.3121		.0071			.6454							0,0284
21			.0070922		.2340					.1348			.0142									0,0993
22	.0070922		.85106383		.1206					.0142			.0284									.0426
23			.04255319		.0355								.5177									.1489
24			.07801418		.0142								.3972						.0142			.4397
25													.0284									.0638
26													.0142									.1064
27				.0070922															.0142			.0851
28				.0212766															.2270			.0142
29				.34751773															.1986
30				.23404255															.2553
31				.17021277															.2057
32				.21985816															.0496
33																			.0213
34																.0355			.0142
35																.0142
36																.3688
37																.0851
38																.1348
39																.1064
40																.0922
41																.1560
42																.0071
Na	9	3	5	6	8	4	7	5	6	6	3	5	6	4	5	9	6	3	9	4	4	8	5
GD	.6973	.5215	.2692	.7519	.7900	.4506	.7595	.5194	.6396	.5370	.3844	.6408	.5763	.3849	.306	.7985	.6742	.3169	.8037	.3890	0,5614	0,7553	0,5038

Na: number of alleles¸ GD: genetic diversity.

Table 2.

Allelic frequencies and genetic diversity of 4 Y-STR loci from the jungle population of Peru (n = 141).

Alleles	Na	DYS385a/b	Alleles	Na	DYF387S1
9, 14	1	.0071	33. 39	1	.0071
11, 14	2	.0142	34. 37	1	.0071
11, 15	1	.0071	34. 38	28	.1986
12, 14	1	.0071	34. 39	15	.1064
12, 15	1	.0071	34. 40	5	.0355
13, 13	1	.0071	35. 36	5	.0355
13, 17	2	.0142	35. 38	4	.0284
13, 18	4	.0284	35. 39	15	.1064
14, 14	6	.0426	35. 40	4	.0284
14, 16	23	.1631	35. 41	5	.0355
14, 17	51	.3617	35. 42	11	.0780
14, 18	15	.1064	36. 36	2	.0142
14, 19	2	.0142	36. 37	2	.0142
14, 20	1	.0071	36. 38	4	.0284
15, 15	2	.0142	36. 39	11	.0780
15, 16	7	.0496	36. 40	5	.0355
15, 17	3	.0213	36. 41	1	.0071
15, 18	3	.0213	37. 37	1	.0071
16, 16	9	.0638	37. 38	1	.0071
16, 17	4	.0284	37. 39	3	.0213
17, 17	1	.0071	37. 40	2	.0142
17, 18	1	.0071	38. 38	1	.0071
Empty Cell			38. 40	2	.0142
Empty Cell			39. 39	4	.0284
Empty Cell			4. 40	8	.0567
Empty Cell
Na		22			25
GD		.8250			.9192

Na: number of alleles; GD: genetic diversity.

Allelic frequencies, genetic diversity and allelic variation for the Iquitos population

A total of 104 samples of male individuals from the Iquitos population were analysed. Allele frequencies (or types) are shown in Table 1. The markers DYS391 and DYS437 had the lowest number of alleles (3 alleles), while the marker DYF387S1 has the highest number of types (24 types). GD values were between .231 (DYS635) and .938 (DYF387S1) and 7 Y-STR loci had values below .5 (DYS437, DYS391, DYS393, DYS392, DYS438, DYS533 and DYS460). The 2 markers with the highest diversity, based on GD, were DYS385a/b (.8738) and DYF387S1 (.9375), while the lowest diversity was observed for marker DYS635 (.2309).

Allele frequencies, genetic diversity and allelic variation for the Awajun population

A total of 104 samples of male individuals from the Iquitos population were analysed. Allele frequencies (or types) are shown in Table 1. The markers DYS391 and DYS437 had the lowest number of alleles (3 alleles), while the marker DYF387S1 has the highest number of types (24 types). GD values were between .231 (DYS635) and .938 (DYF387S1) and 7 Y-STR loci had values below .5 (DYS437, DYS391, DYS393, DYS392, DYS438, DYS533 and DYS460). The 2 markers with the highest diversity, based on GD, were DYS385a/b (.8738) and DYF387S1 (.9375), while the lowest diversity was observed for marker DYS635 (.2309).

Allelic frequencies, genetic diversity and allelic variation for the Awajun population

Twenty-nine samples of male individuals from the Awajun population were analysed. Allele frequencies are shown in Table 2. The markers DYS635, DYS448 and DYS437 had the lowest number of alleles (one allele), while the marker DYF387S1 had the highest number of types (6 types). GD values ranged from .000 (DYS635) to .7094 (DYS449) and 12 Y-STR loci had values below .5 (DYS635, DYS448, DYS437, DYS392, DYS391, DYS576, DYS438, DYS460, DYS389I, DYS394, etc.). The marker with the highest diversity, based on GD, was DYS449 (.7094), while the lowest diversity was observed in markers DYS635, DYS448 and DYS437 (.0000).

Haloptype diversity

Of the total number of samples analysed (n = 141), 106 distinct haplotypes were identified with HD and CD values of .991 and .752, respectively (Table 3). In the Iquitos population (n = 104), 87 distinct haplotypes were observed with HD and CD values of .996 and .837, respectively. In the Awajun population (n = 29), 18 distinct haplotypes were observed with HD and CD values of .904 and .621, respectively. One haplotype was observed 12 times (9 times in Awajun and 3 times in Iquitos). Sample collection was designed to avoid obtaining closely related donors. In addition, autosomal STR data in these 12 individuals were evaluated to determine if any were closely related. There was no discernible association indicating that any were first-degree related (data not shown). These 12 individuals may be related through the paternal line and autosomal STR typing lacks the power to discriminate parent-child or sibling relationships. Alternatively, these individuals may indicate a founder effect and a population substructure to consider.

Table 3.

Pairwise genetic distance value estimates (below the diagonal) and corresponding p-value (above the diagonal) for the jungle population, Awajun population, Iquitos population and Tambopata population of Peru and 9 reference population data.

Empty Cell	Jungle population of Peru (n = 110)	Awajunpopulation (n = 18)	Iquitospopulation (n = 87)	Tambopatapopulation (n = 5)	South Africa [African] (n = 183)	Oxapampa, Peru [Ashaninka](n = 57)	Puno, Peru [Aymara] (n = 90)	Amazons, Peru [Chachapoya] (n = 106)	Cuzco, Peru [Chumbivilca] (n = 10)	Junín, Peru [Huanca] (n = 13)	Amazons, Peru [Jivaro] (n = 21)	Peru [Mestizo] (n = 218)	Ucayali, Peru [Shipibo-Conibo] (n = 21)
Jungle population of Peru (n = 110)		.0309	.9029	.0011	.0000	.0001	.0000	.0000	.0000	.0005	.0970	.0000	.0000
Awajun population (n = 18)	.0402		.0032	.0027	.0000	.0005	.0005	.0000	.0017	.0068	.0909	.0002	.0002
Iquitos population (n = 87)	.0058	.0718		.0005	.0000	.0003	.0000	.0001	.0000	.0002	.0791	.0001	.0001
Tambopata population(n = 5)	.2572	.3976	.2854		.0009	.0001	.0055	.0028	.0006	.0019	.0001	.0058	.0000
South Africa ([African] n = 183)	.3178n	.3189	.2977	.4230		.0000	.0000	.0000	.0000	.0001	.0000	.0000	.0000
Oxapampa, Peru ([Ashaninka] n = 57)	.0366	.1055	.0355	.3204	.3466		.0009	.0000	.0000	.0004	.0064	0,0000	0,0000
Puno, Peru ([Aymara] n = 90)	.0733	.0981	.0784	.1986	.3489	.0423		.0000	.0779	.1270	.0008	.0000	.0000
Amazons, Peru ([Chachapoya] n = 106)	.0752	.1542	.0559	.2429	.2984	.1015	.1606		.0000	.0000	.0009	.3618	.0001
Cuzco, Perú ([Chumbivilca] n = 10)	.2028	.2377	.2248	.4690	.3732	.1917	.0451	.2871		.2493	.0002	.0000	.0000
Junín, Peru ([Huanca] n = 13)	.1175	.1404	.1360	.2794	.3225	.1282	.0257	.1975	.0225		.0014	.0001	.0000
Amazons, Peru ([Jivaro] n = 21)	.019	.0550	.0232	.3897	.3146	.0537	.0895	.0863	.2601	.1725		.0056	.0010
Pu ([Mestizo] n = 218)	.0571	.1163	.0432	.1872	.3073	.0661	.1298	.0002	.2313	.1619	.0584		.0002
Uu ([Shipibo-Conibo] n = 21)	.1098	.1900	.1045	.4673	.3757	.1621	.2080	.1347	.3928	.3215	.1260	.1061

With Rst .01 no clusters were obtained.

With Rst .05 a cluster was obtained. Cluster 1: Cuzco, Peru (Chumbivilca); Puno, Peru (Aymara); Junín, Peru (Huanca).

Population structure for forensic analysis

Using an online tool (https://site.nevgen.org/nevgen-genealogy-tools-v1-1/), provisional haplogroups (main and most likely clade) were determined for the different haplotypes in the jungle. In the Peruvian jungle population, the majority (91.56%) belonged to haplogroup Q, with the remainder distributed among other haplogroups (.94% - E, G, J and C) and (3.55% R) (Table 3) In the Iquitos population, 9.8% of the haplotypes were assigned to haplogroup Q, 5.8% to haplogroup R and 1.2% were distributed among other haplogroups (E, G, J and C). In the Awajun population, 94.4% and 5.6% were assigned to haplogroup Q and E, respectively. In the Tambopata population sample, 100% of haplotypes were assigned to haplogroup Q (Table 3). These data are consistent with haplogroups of indigenous peoples in Latin America.

Genetic distances

Rst values for genetic distances and the MDS plot for the Peruvian rainforest population or its separate samples (Iquitos, Awajun and Tambopata) and the African (South Africa),¹⁶ Ashaninca (Oxapamapa, Peru),¹¹ Aymara (Puno, Peru),^12,17 Chachapoya (Amazonas, Peru),¹³ Chumbivilca (Cuzco, Peru),¹⁷ Huancas (Junín, Peru),¹³ Jivaro (Amazonas, Peru),¹³ Mestizo (Peru),^18,19 Shipibo-Conibo (Ucayali, Peru),¹⁷ were obtained from YHRD from 17 common Y-STR markers (DYSDYS456, DYS389I, DYS390, DYS389II, DYS458, DYS19, DYS385, DYS393, DYS391, DYS439, DYS635, DYS392, YGATAH4, DYS437, DYS438, DYS448) (Table 3 and Fig. 2) The African population (South Africa)¹⁶ was used as an outgroup.

Figure 2.

PGMA tree based on 17 common Y-STR markers in the 13 populations based on the estimated genetic distance values.

The Rst values were used to generate an UPGMA tree using MEGA 6.06²⁰ to show population differentiations based on these Y-STR haplogroups. The jungle population was closest to the Awajun and Jivaro (Amazon, Peru) population (Fig. 3). An Rst value ≤ .01 was used to identify which populations cluster closely but none was observed. Focusing on the jungle populations, the Awajun population was closer to the Jíbaro population (Amazonas, Peru) while the Iquitos population was closer to the Shipibo-Conibo population (Ucayali, Peru), the Chachapoya population (Amazonas, Peru) and the Mestizo population (Peru). These results suggest that there is a high genetic affinity between these populations. Additionally, the Tambopata population was distant from all the groups analysed (Fig. 3). The distance of the Tambopata population from the other populations analysed (Awajun and Iquitos) may be due in part to the geographical distance of approximately 1,000 km between the Iquitos and Tambopata populations and the approximately 1,200 km between the Awajun and Tambopata populations. However, with an Rst of ≤ .05, a cluster (cluster 1) was observed that did not include the jungle populations.

Figure 3.

Multidimensional scaling analysis (MDS) of the Peruvian jungle population (Jungle) (n = 141), Iquitos population (n = 104), Awajun population (n = 29), Tambopata population (n = 8) and 9 other reference populations. South Africa ([African] n = 183)a, Oxapampa, Peru ([Ashaninka] n = 57)b, Puno, Peru ([Aymara] n = 90)c, d, Amazonas, Peru ([Chachapoya] n = 106)e, Cuzco, Peru ([Chumbivilca] n = 10)f, Junín, Peru ([Huanca] n = 13)g, Amazonas, Peru ([Jivaro] n = 21)h, Peru ([Mestizo] n = 218)i, Ucayali, Peru ([Shipibo-Conibo] n = 21)j deposited in YHRD.

Accession numbers:

a: YA004588

b: YA005583

c: YA003824

d: YA004703

e: YA004108

f: YA003820

g: YA003822

h: YA005058

i: YP000325

j: YA003825.

Conclusions

Genetic data are scarce for the populations analysed. Guevara et al.¹³ studied populations in the Peruvian jungle and detected haplogroup Q in only 60% of the Chachapoyas population (n = 68), while in the Jíbaro (n = 23) and Huancas (n = 10) populations it was present in 96 and 92%, respectively,¹⁴ and in the Ashanincas (Oxapampa, n = 58) haplogroup Q was present in more than 99%¹⁵ In the present study, haplogroup Q was observed in 91.56% of the population, similar to that of the Jivaro, Huancas and Ashaninca populations. This may be due to a common ancestry or the sampling strategy employed, as well as the inclusion criteria.

The 27 Y-STR loci were typed in 141 unrelated male individuals from the Peruvian jungle, providing a more consistent dataset for this population group. The data obtained have been deposited in the YHRD database (Awajun population accession number: YA005891 and Iquitos population accession number: YA004763) with the exception of the Tambopata population sample due to the number of samples collected (n = 8). These data are more extensive than other data available for the Peruvian jungle population. For example, YRHD (Yhrd.org) contains only 5 haplotypes (with the AmpFlSTRYfiler™ PCR Amplification kit, AppliedBiosystems™) for Iquitos (Loreto, Peru) (archived under accession number YA003823) and no haplotypes for the Awajun and Tambopata populations. Other published studies on Y chromosome data from Peru have a smaller sample size, such as the Aymara (n = 90),¹² Aguaruna (n = 30),²¹ as well as other South American populations, including the Ticuna of Peru, Brazil (n = 23) and Surui of Brazil (n = 24).²² The analyses performed in this research show that the Y-STR haplotypes studied showed high polymorphism in the population analysed and, therefore, are useful in forensic studies for the identification of population groups by paternal lineage, as well as in population genetics when investigating groups or individuals from Latin America.

Ethical responsibilities

The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Institute of Tropical Medicine "Daniel Alcides Carrión" of the National University of San Marcos (Certificate of Approval CIEI-2018-015).

Funding

Project financed with resources transferred by the Ministry of Education (MINEDU), year 2021 through the programme Research and Innovation Projects for the Strengthening of the Research Lines of the Research Groups of the UNMSM - National Policy of Productive Higher Technical Education (PNESTP-MINEDU).