Study of six X-linked tetranucleotide microsatellites: population data from five Spanish regions.

We studied six X-linked microsatellites in a large group of Spanish individuals (n=614) from five different regions located in northern, central and southern Spain. All the markers had tetranucleotide repeat units (DXS9895, DXS9898, DXS7130, DXS7132, GATA172D05 and DXS6789). They were amplified in two triplex PCR reactions. There were no significant sex- or region-related differences in allelic frequencies, suggesting that general national databases can be adequate as a reference for X-linked markers. The analysis of those six short tandem repeats combined in 316 males revealed 300 different "temporary haplotypes", 283 of which were found only once. There was no evidence for statistically significant linkage disequilibrium among the loci studied. Therefore these markers are quite polymorphic and useful for forensic purposes.