Ethnic Origin of Crime Scene Evidential Materials Determination in Three Main Ethno-linguistic Population Groups in Nigeria

DNA analysis using autosomal short tandem repeat (microsatellite) polymorphism is a useful tool for forensic purposes, such as individual identification, stain analysis and paternity testing. Analyses of such materials are carried out by the comparison of profiles from questioned samples or crime scene with those from suspects or victims or from database. In some instances, the profiles generated will neither match that from suspects nor the database. The objective of the current study is to identify population specific markers that will show distinct genetic variability among the three main ethno-linguistic population groups in Nigeria. The profiles generated can be used to infer ethnic origin of test samples from the populations in an ethnically blinded test.