Abstract: Purpose The study of Chinese Y chromosomal micro satellite locus DYS390 are used to trace paternal lineage of human origins and evolution. The data in this study may be useful in human population genetics and forensic applications. Methods In this experiment, the distribution of a Y-chromosome specific polymorphic locus, DYS390, in 102 unrelated males of three ethnic groups in China w as studied by using PCR method follow ed by PAGE and silver staining . The three nationalities are Han in Northeast of our country, Korean in Yan Bian and Mongol in Inner Mongolia Municipalities. Results The results showed that 5 alleles were existed in Han population, 4 alleles were existed in Korean and Mongolian populations. Their highest allele frequencies were 0. 439 ( 211bp) in Han, 0. 451 ( 211bp) in Korean, and 0. 433 ( 215bp) in Mongolian population. Besides, one case of allele 223bp was found in Han population ( 1 /41) . Conclusion The allele frequency difference among three populations is insignificant ( Fisher 's Ex act Test: p= 0. 930) . Clustering analyses showed that paternal lineage is intimate among the three nationalities.

Key words: DYS390, Y-ch romosome, Microsa tellite DNA, Polymorphism (genetics)