Abstract: Objective To investigate the genetic polymorphisms of 16 Y-STR loci and to evaluate the forensic application in Miao, Yao and Dong nationalities of Guangxi population. Methods Genotypes of Y-STR loci were tested in a total of 253 healthy unrelated individuals （67 Miao people, 99 Yao people, 87 Dong people） using AmpF?STR^®  Yfiler^TM PCR amplification kit. Allele frequencies and population genetics parameters of the 16 Y-STR loci were statistically analyzed. The allele frequencies were compared among the three nationalities. Results Most alleles were detected at locus DYS385 while fewest alleles were detected at locus DYS437 among the three nationalities. GD values were ranged from 0.261 9 （DYS438） to 0.941 7 （DYS385） for Miao nationality, 0.317 0 （DYS391） to 0.955 9 （DYS385） for Yao nationality and 0.305 3 （DYS391） to 0.943 3 （DYS385） for Dong nationality, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences detected （P>0.05） at loci of DYS391 and DYS438 among the three nationalities. Conclusion The 16 Y-STR loci can be applied to practices and basic research of forensic genetics in the three main nationalities of Guangxi population.

Key words: forensic genetics, polymorphism, genetic, Y-STR, Miao nationality, Yao nationality, Dong nationality