Name a core set of autosomal STR loci commonly used in forensic DNA profiling (e.g., CODIS) and why this set is standardized?

Name a core set of autosomal STR loci commonly used in forensic DNA profiling (e.g., CODIS) and why this set is standardized?

• A. Loci such as HUMTH01, Amelogenin, CSF1PO; standardized for variety.
• B. Loci such as D3S1358, vWA, FGA, D8S1179, D21S11, D18S51, D13S317; standardized to enable inter-lab comparability and robust discrimination.
• C. Loci such as MT-CO1, CYTB only; used for mitochondrial lineage.
• D. Loci such as STRs on Y chromosome; used for paternal lineage.

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is that forensic DNA profiling relies on a fixed, autosomal STR panel so that profiles from different laboratories can be compared reliably. The best choice lists the classic CODIS core autosomal STR loci: D3S1358, vWA, FGA, D8S1179, D21S11, D18S51, and D13S317. These loci were chosen because they provide high genetic diversity across populations, yield clear, high-quality peak patterns, and have been extensively validated across multiple kits and platforms. Standardizing on this set—and using consistent allele naming and sizing methods—allows labs worldwide to generate compatible data, perform direct comparisons, and share databases with confidence. This standardization underpins inter-lab comparability and robust discrimination, which are essential for reliable identification and judicial use. The other options don’t fit as the standard autosomal core set. Loci like MT-CO1 and CYTB come from mitochondrial DNA, not autosomal STRs, so they’re used for lineage but not for the standard CODIS-type profiling. Y-chromosome STRs are autosomally non-recombining markers that primarily inform paternal lineage, not the autosomal profile used for general identification. And while Amelogenin is used for sex determination, combining it with a couple other STRs does not reflect the established core autosomal STR panel used for standardized forensic comparison.

The main idea here is that forensic DNA profiling relies on a fixed, autosomal STR panel so that profiles from different laboratories can be compared reliably. The best choice lists the classic CODIS core autosomal STR loci: D3S1358, vWA, FGA, D8S1179, D21S11, D18S51, and D13S317. These loci were chosen because they provide high genetic diversity across populations, yield clear, high-quality peak patterns, and have been extensively validated across multiple kits and platforms. Standardizing on this set—and using consistent allele naming and sizing methods—allows labs worldwide to generate compatible data, perform direct comparisons, and share databases with confidence. This standardization underpins inter-lab comparability and robust discrimination, which are essential for reliable identification and judicial use.

The other options don’t fit as the standard autosomal core set. Loci like MT-CO1 and CYTB come from mitochondrial DNA, not autosomal STRs, so they’re used for lineage but not for the standard CODIS-type profiling. Y-chromosome STRs are autosomally non-recombining markers that primarily inform paternal lineage, not the autosomal profile used for general identification. And while Amelogenin is used for sex determination, combining it with a couple other STRs does not reflect the established core autosomal STR panel used for standardized forensic comparison.