The human Y chromosome, due to its mostly paternal inheritance, offers interesting applications in various fields such as human evolution, population history, and genealogy. In forensic applications, specifically targeting male-specific DNA is of benefit in cases of sexual assault where usually autosomal DNA profiling is not informative to identify the male perpetrator. Earlier contributions had resulted in the introduction of Y-chromosomal DNA-analysis to the forensic field where it currently is in widespread use. We are interested in improving Y-chromosome analysis in forensic applications by developing new markers that can improve the ability to differentiate between unrelated men. Furthermore, while systematically studying the mutability of Y-chromosome markers and other molecular features, we aim to overcome the current limitation of forensic Y-chromosome DNA analysis in that conclusions cannot be drawn to a single man but only to groups of paternally related men, by developing new Y markers that can differentiate male relatives towards male individual identification using Y-chromosome DNA analysis.

Selected recent publications:

• Gusmao L, Butler JM, Carracedo A, Gill P, Kayser M, Mayr WR, Morling N, Prinz M, Roewer L, Tyler-Smith C, Schneider PM (2006) DNA Commission of the International Society of Forensic Genetics (ISFG): An update of the recommendations on the use of Y-STRs in forensic analysis. International Journal of Legal Medicine, 120:191-200
• Kayser M, Vermeulen M, Knoblauch H, Schuster H, Krawczak M, and Roewer L. (2007) Relating two deep-rooted pedigrees from Central Germany by high-resolution Y-STR haplotyping. Forensic Science International: Genetics, 1:125–128
• Vermeulen M+, Wollstein A+, van der Gaag K, Lao O, Xue Y, Wang Q, Roewer L, Knoblauch H, Tyler-Smith C, de Knijff P, and Kayser M (2009) Improving global and regional resolution of male lineage differentiation by simple single-copy Y-chromosomal short tandem repeat polymorphisms. Forensic Science International: Genetics, 3:205-213.
• Goedbloed M, Vermeulen M, Fang RN, Lembring M, Wollstein A, Lao O, Ballantyne K, Brauer S, Krüger C, Roewer L, Lessig R, Ploski R, Dobosz T, Henke L, Henke J, Furtado MR, and Kayser M (2009) Comprehensive mutation analysis of 17 Y-chromosomal short tandem repeat polymorphisms included in the AmpFlSTR® Yfiler® PCR amplification kit. International Journal of Legal Medicine, 123:471-482.
• Ballantyne KN, Goedbloed M, Fang R, Schaap O, Lao O, Wollstein A, Choi Y, van Duijn K, Vermeulen M, Brauer S, Decorte R, Poetsch M, von Wurmb-Schwark N, de Knijff O, Labuda D, Vézina H, Knoblauch H, Lessig R, Roewer L, Ploski R, Dobosz T, Henke L, Henke J, Furtado MR, and Kayser M (2010) Mutability of Y-chromosomal microsatellites: rates, characteristics, molecular bases and forensic implications. American Journal of Human Genetics, 87:341–353
• Ballantyne KN, Keerl V, Wollstein A, Choi Y, Zuniga SB, Ralf A, Vermeulen M, de Knijff P and Kayser M (2011) A new future of forensic Y-chromosome analysis: rapidly mutating Y-STRs for differentiating male relatives and paternal lineages. Forensic Science International: Genetics, Epub May 2011, doi:10.1016/j.fsigen.2011.04.017