Abstract: Objective To establish a miniSTR multiplex set including three STR loci unlinked from the CODIS loci： D1S1676, D6S1274 and D17S1299, to generate amplified fragment less than 115 bp in size and to study the genotype of degraded DNA samples. Methods After amplification with different fluorescence labeled primers, the amplified products from 100 unrelated individual and  2 highly degraded specimens were analyzed by 310 Genetic Analyzer. Results Three miniSTR loci were determined by fluorescence-labeled multiplex-PCR technique. Each locus was successfully genotyped in all 100 samples. In D1S1676, D6S1274 and D17S1299 loci, 9, 9, 7 alleles and 27, 23, 18 genotypes were observed respectively. The distribution of genotype for three miniSTR loci in Chengdu Han population was in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The combined exclusion probability and the combined discrimination power of the three STR loci in Chengdu Han population were 0.999 1 and 0.916 0  respectively. Conclusion This miniSTR multiplex set could be used in individual identification and paternity test.  It also provides a new method in the analysis of degraded DNA sample.

Key words: forensic genetics, polymorphism, genetic, nucleic acid amplification techniques, miniSTR, D1S1676, D6S1274, D17S1299