Mitochondrial DNA variation in Sub-Saharan Africa: Forensic data from a mixed West African sample, Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), and Rwanda

• Published in: Forensic science international : genetics Vol. 44; p. 102202
• Main Authors: Göbel, Tanja M.K., Bodner, Martin, Robino, Carlo, Augustin, Christa, Huber, Gabriela E., Marra, Michele, Mutesa, Léon, Pasino, Serena, Santovito, Alfredo, Zimmermann, Bettina, Schneider, Peter M., Parson, Walther
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.01.2020
• Subjects: Africa, Western; African Continental Ancestry Group - genetics; Cote d'Ivoire; Datasets as Topic; DNA, Mitochondrial - genetics; East Africa; EMPOP; Forensics; Genetic Variation; Genetics, Population; Haplotypes; Humans; Locus Control Region; mtDNA database; Quality control; Rwanda; West Africa; Africa, Western; Cote d'Ivoire; Rwanda; EMPOP; mtDNA database; Forensics; West Africa; East Africa; Quality control
• ISSN: 1872-4973; 1878-0326
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2019.102202

•The first forensic mtDNA population sample for Côte d’Ivoire is presented.•The first forensic mtDNA population sample for Rwanda is presented.•A mixed forensic mtDNA population sample for West Africa is presented.•The sample may serve as database for several yet uncovered countries of West Africa.•A strategy for use of impaired but precious population samples is presented. This study provides 398 novel complete mitochondrial control region sequences that augment the still underrepresented data from Africa by three datasets: a mixed West African sample set deriving from 12 countries (n = 145) and datasets from Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) (n = 100) as well as Rwanda (n = 153). The analysis of mtDNA variation and genetic comparisons with published data revealed low random match probabilities in all three datasets and typical West African and East African diversity, respectively. Genetic parameters indicate that the presented mixed West African dataset may serve as first forensic mtDNA control region database for West Africa in general. In addition, a strategy for responsible forensic application of precious mtDNA population samples potentially containing close maternal relatives is outlined. The datasets will be uploaded to the forensic mtDNA database EMPOP (https://empop.online) upon publication.