Abstract: Using PCR and PAG, followed by silver staining, the tetrameric STR D2S441 locus was studied in 260 unrelated Chinese individuals living in Chengdu. 9 alleles and 26 genotypes were observed. The range of fragment size was 131bp to 155bp. The genotype distribution of D2S441 locus in Han population was in accordance with Hardy－ Weinberg equilibrium. Family survey confirmed Mendelian inheritance of alleles. The discriminating power (Dp), observed heterozygosity (H), polymorphism information content (PIC) and power of exclusion (PE) were 0.9084, 0.7885, 0.7390 and 0.5778 respectively. The results demonstrated that this locus was highly polymorphic and could be used for forensic identification and paternity testing.

Key words: short tandem repeat, Polymerase chain reaction, D2S441 locus, Polymorphism