Abstract: Using the ABI 3100 genetic analyzer, we investigated the haplotype distribution of 7 Y-STR loci among 133 unrelated Bai males in Yunnan Province and 105 unrelated Uygur males in Xinjiang. The 7 Y-STR markers include DYS456, DYS464a/b/c/d, DYS527a/b, DYS531, DYS709, DYS448 and DYS522. The results revealed 133 and 105 haplotypes of 7 Y-STR loci in these two Chinese minority populations, respectively, with each haplotype appearing only once, making the haplotype diversity almost 1 for both groups. The distribution pattern of 7 Y-STR haplotype between these two ethnic groups was found to be statistically significant(P < 0.001). These highly polymorphic loci will prove to be useful for forensic identifications and for populational genetic studies.

Key words: Y chromosome; Short tandem repeat; Haplotype; Genetic polymorphism