M. Cresta and sponsored by Istituto Italiano di Antropologia. M.H.D.L. is a postdoctoral fellow of FWO Vlaanderen. The analysis of the Flemish and Benin samples PD0325901 was made possible by a grant of FWO Vlaanderen. R.S.M.N. was supported by CAPES, R.S. was supported by CNPq. Samples from the Argentinean provinces of Buenos Aires and Formosa were analyzed as part of grants 20020100100744 UBACyT (University

of Buenos Aires) and PIP 112-200801-02836 (CONICET) to DC. DC and MC are members of Carrera del Investigador Científico y Tecnológico-CONICET, Argentina. Certain commercial equipment, instruments and materials are identified in order to specify experimental procedures as completely as possible. In no case does such identification imply a recommendation or endorsement by the National Institute

of Standards and Technology nor does it imply that any of the materials, instruments or equipment identified are necessarily the best available for the purpose. The authors would like to acknowledge the Promega Corporation for providing financial support for several of the laboratories participating in this study. “
“The discrimination power of STR technology is derived from the combination of allele calls at multiple loci. By combining several independent loci, scientists can identify individuals precisely and with significant supporting probabilities. The current US database, which is based on the CODIS 13 core STR loci, has been overwhelmingly successful for matching suspects not with evidence. Yet there remain situations that argue for inclusion of more loci and increased discrimination. Additional loci would aid in missing persons cases Wnt pathway and distinguish family

members in closely related communities. Furthermore, with expanded locus overlap between multiple databases, global cooperation and data exchange would be facilitated. Both the European and US forensic communities have taken steps toward these goals with adoption of the European Standard Set (ESS) [1] and [2] and proposal of the expanded CODIS core loci [3] and [4]. The PowerPlex® Fusion System allows simultaneous amplification of the loci: Amelogenin, D3S1358, D1S1656, D2S441, D10S1248, D13S317, and Penta E labeled in fluorescein; D16S539, D18S51, D2S1338, CSF1PO, and Penta D labeled in JOE; TH01, vWA, D21S11, D7S820, D5S818, TPOX, and DYS391 labeled in TMR-ET; D8S1179, D12S391, D19S433, FGA, and D22S1045 labeled in CXR-ET. The system incorporates the expanded CODIS – required loci plus the optional markers, Penta E, Penta D, D22S1045, and TPOX, and addresses the updated ESS requirements (Supplemental Table 1). Profiles generated using the PowerPlex® Fusion System are compatible with databases founded on either CODIS or ESS requirements. Based on current 5-dye technology, the system is compatible with the Applied Biosystems® 3130 and 3500 Series Genetic Analyzer capillary electrophoresis instruments and does not require upgrades to existing collection and analysis software versions.