Original paper
X-chromosomal STRs in aDNA kinship analysis
Bretschneider, Anna; Mazanec, Janine; Wittmeier, Patrick; Flux, Anna Lena; Schmidt, Diane; Hummel, Susanne
Anthropologischer Anzeiger Volume 81 No. 2 (2024), p. 131 - 138
published: Mar 21, 2024
published online: Aug 14, 2023
manuscript accepted: Jun 27, 2023
manuscript revision received: Jun 27, 2023
manuscript revision requested: May 26, 2023
manuscript received: Mar 3, 2023
DOI: 10.1127/anthranz/2023/1714
ArtNo. ESP140008102002, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
The analysis of ancient DNA (aDNA) from human skeletal remains can provide useful insights when investigating archaeological finds. One popular application of aDNA is to examine genealogical relationships between individuals recovered at the same archaeological site. For the reconstruction of genealogical relationships, several genetic markers are commonly used: autosomal STRs, mitochondrial lineages (based on SNP-analysis) and Y-chromosomal haplotypes (based on Y-STR-analysis). In this paper, we present the additional opportunities that X-STRs provide in aDNA kinship reconstruction, especially in deficiency cases and for the examination of father-daughter relationships. Possible applications are demonstrated on a range of different kinship reconstructions: confirmation of half-siblingship in the Lichtenstein cave (Germany), exclusion of two potential father-daughter relationships in Goslar (Germany), investigation of three siblingships in Boilstädt (Germany) as well as the confirmation of a father-daughter relationship in Stolpe (Germany). This study shows that the analysis of X-STRs can contribute to the investigation of relationship constellations otherwise difficult to approach (e.g. father-daughter relationships) and that X-STRs are useful to support and complement autosomal STRs, mtDNA and Y-STR data.
Keywords
STR typing • ancient DNA • archaeological skeletal remains • father-daughter relationships • deficiency case