The human D11S554 locus: four distinct families of repeat pattern alleles at one locus

Abstract

We have sequenced amplified products of 44 short tandem repeat alleles at the human D11S554 locus. The sequences revealed four distinct, but related, families of consensus repeat patterns. Six alleles deviated from the consensus patterns. Alleles differed In size by as little as one base pair, and precise sizing Is required for analysis of alleles at this highly polymorphic locus. The evolution of alleles at the D11S554 locus and related short tandem repeat locl is discussed.