The Y-STR markers in the following list are commonly used in forensic and genealogical DNA testing.

DYS454 is the least diverse, and multi-copy marker DYS464 is the most diverse Y-STR marker.

The location on the Y-chromosome of numbered Y-STR markers can be roughly given with cytogenetic localization. For example, DYS449 is located at Yp11.2 - meaning the Y-chromosome, petit arm, band 1, sub-band 1, sub-sub-band 2 - DYS449.DYS449 in the GDB Human Genome Database

Forensic labs usually use PowerPlex Y (Promega Corporation) and Yfiler (Applied Biosystems) kits that examine 12 or 17 Y-STRs, respectively. Genealogical DNA test labs examine up to 700 Y-STRs.

Mutation rates Mutation rates are those per generation, as estimated in Chandler (2006).Chandler (2006) (but see also this ) The quoted estimated errors are typically +/- 15-20%. Alternative estimates (for forensic use therefore not all markers are covered) from observed pedigrees are also available at the Y Chromosome Haplotype Reference Database.

It appears that some trinucleotide markers may have much higher mutation rates at some repeat lengths than at others. For example, variation of the trinucleotide DYS388 is generally very slow in most haplogroups, when it takes the values 11–13. But there appears to be much greater variation and more rapid mutation in Haplogroup J, where it typically has values 14–18. Similarly the trinucleotide DYS392 is reported to be "fast" in haplogroups N and Q, where it takes values 14-16 which are rare in other groups.

Y-STR markers STRNotesDNA sequence repeat motifAllelesMutation rateLinksDYS19=14see DYS394————DYS385DYS385 is a multi-copy marker, and includes DYS385a and DYS385b. The order of DYS385a and DYS385b may be reversed, their sequence is referred to as the Kittler order.GAAA13-180.00226NIST fact sheetDYS388ATT170.00022 Trinucleotide - see #Mutation ratesDYS389DYS389 is a multi-copy marker, and includes DYS389i and DYS389ii. DYS389ii refers to the total length of DYS389. Therefore, when there is a one step mutation at DYS389i, it will also appear in DYS389ii.(TCTG) (TCTA) (TCTG) (TCTA)i:13ii:300.00186, 0.00242NIST fact sheetDYS390(TCTA) (TCTG)230.00311NIST fact sheetDYS391TCTA110.00265NIST fact sheetDYS392TAT110.00052 NIST fact sheetDYS393DYS393 is also known as DYS395.AGAT120.00076NIST fact sheetDYS394DYS394 is also known as DYS19.TAGA140.00151NIST fact sheetDYS413Found in the Palindromic region of the Y DNA21-22DYS425DYS425, when it can be measured, is very stable. However it is actually one copy of a multiple part marker, DYF371 (below), and as such recLOH mutations can often make it unmeasurable when the other copies overwrite it. For example, it is associated with the defining SNP for I-M38 (I2a2a1a1; formerly I1b2a1), as the SNP M284 can render a null value at this marker. Most members of E-M96 and sub-clades also render null values. Nevertheless, it was one of the small number of markers originally offered by Oxford Ancestors, and Family Tree DNA later chose to offer it to genealogists also.TGT12DYS426GTT110.00009 NIST fact sheetDYS434TAAT (CTAT)9NIST fact sheetDYS435TGGA11DYS436GTT12DYS437TCTA140.00099NIST fact sheetDYS438TTTTC100.00055NIST fact sheetDYS439DYS439 is also known as Y-GATA-A4. DYS439 is associated with the defining SNP for haplogroup R1b1c9a, as the SNP can render a null value at this marker.AGAT120.00477NIST fact sheetDYS441CCTT15A novel multiplex PCR systemDYS442TATC110.00324A novel multiplex PCR systemDYS443TTCC0DYS444TAGA11A novel multiplex PCR systemDYS445TTTA11A novel multiplex PCR systemDYS446TCTCT14Sorenson Marker DetailsDYS447TAAWA260.00264NIST fact sheetDYS448AGAGAT200.00135NIST fact sheetDYS449TTTC250.00838Sorenson Marker DetailsDYS450TTTTA8DYS452YATAC29DYS453AAAT0DYS454DYS454 is the least varying Y-STR marker commonly used in genealogical DNA testing. Of the entries for DYS454 at Ybase, 96% have 11 repeats, 3% have 10 repeats, and 2% have 12 repeats (source).AAAT110.00016DYS455AAAT110.00016Sorenson Marker DetailsDYS456AGAT140.00735Sorenson Marker DetailsDYS458GAAA180.00814Sorenson Marker DetailsDYS459This is a multi-copy marker, and includes DYS459a and DYS459b.TAAA8-90.00132DYS460DYS460 was originally known as Y-GATA-A7.1.ATAG100.00402NIST fact sheetDYS461DYS461 was originally known as Y-GATA-A7.2.(TAGA) CAGA11NIST fact sheetDYS462TATG11DYS463AARGG22DYS464DYS464 is a multi-copy palindromic marker. Men typically have four copies known in such cases as DYS464a, DYS464b, DYS464c, and DYS464d. There can be less than four copies, or more, which in such cases would be known as DYS464e, DYS464f, etc. DYS464 is the most diverse range of values of any Y-STR marker (source). This marker can also sometimes be typed with separate g-types and c-types to increase resolution. The type variance is based on a SNP that can be found in most R1b haplogroup males. It is part of the Palindromic region of Y DNACCTT12-14-16-170.00566Forensic value of the multicopy Y-STR marker DYS464 DYS464X testing DYS464 discrepanciesDYS481CTT26DYS485TTA15DYS487ATT13DYS490TTA12DYS494TAT9DYS495AAT15DYS497TAT15DYS50414DYS505TCCT13DYS508TATC0DYS518AAAG0NIST Comm. KitsDYS520ATAS21DYS522GATA13DYS525TAGA10DYS531AAAT11DYS532CTTT10DYS533ATCT11DYS534CTTT15DYS540TTAT11DYS549AGAT13DYS556AATA12DYS557TTTC18DYS565TAAA11DYS570TTTC12-230.00790DYS572AAAT12DYS573TTTA0DYS575AAAT8-12DYS576AAAG170.01022DYS578AAAT8DYS589TTATT11DYS590TTTTG8DYS594TAAAA10DYS607AAGG140.00411DYS612DYS614DYS626AAAGDYS627AAAG0NIST Comm. KitsDYS632CATT8DYS635Also known as Y-GATA-C4TSTA compound210.0046NIST fact sheet DYS63611DYS638TTTA11DYS641TAAA10DYS643CTTTT9DYS710GAAA36DYS714TTTTC25DYS716CCATT27DYS717TGTAT20DYS724Palindromic; also known as CDY33-350.03531DYS725PalindromicDYS726YSTR marker in the pericentromeric region.12DYF371DYF371 is a multicopy, palindromic region marker. Includes the DYS425 marker & can be informative in cases of null values at that marker.12DYF385S1Duplicated YSTR marker in close proximity to DYS4598-9DYF387S1 a/bRAAG0NIST Comm. KitsDYF397DYF397 is a palindromic region marker.DYF399An asymmetric three allele STR locus that can be used to observe deletions and recombinational rearrangements in the palindromic region of the Y chromosome.17-29 (many incomplete alleles)nomenclatureDYF401DYF401 is a palindromic region marker.DYF406S111DYF408DYF408 is a palindromic region marker.DYF411DYF411 is a palindromic region marker.DXYS156YCAIIYCAII is a multi-copy marker which includes YCAIIa & YCAIIb22-220.00123Y-GATA-H4TAGA100.00208NIST fact sheetY-GATA-C4see DYS635Y-GATA-A10TAGA14NIST fact sheetY-GGAAT-1B0711

Y-STR allele nomenclatures DNA testing companies or labs in certain cases use different nomenclatures to designate the same Y-STR allele. Thus, a conversion must be applied in these cases to accurately compare Y-STR results obtained from different companies. The most common nomenclature is based on guidance provided by NIST for Y-STR markers historically reported differently by various companies. The NIST standard is the proposal of ISOGG (International Society of Genetic Genealogy) for genetic genealogy companies.

Notes and references

Kayser et al. (2004), A Comprehensive Survey of Human Y-Chromosomal Microsatellites Am. J. Hum. Genet., 74 1183–1197. NB online only data file

See also List of Y-DNA single-nucleotide polymorphisms List of X-STR markers

External links Y STR fact sheet Y-DNA Testing Company STR Marker Comparison Chart SMGF Y Marker Details