Unveiling the diversity and potential of STR markers across India - a systematic review

This systematic review explores the genetic diversity and potential of Short Tandem Repeat (STR) markers across India. STR markers, characterized by variations in the number of repeated DNA sequences among individuals, are highly informative for distinguishing between individuals and populations. This review synthesizes findings from studies conducted across various Indian states, highlighting unique genetic profiles and population structures. The analysis underscores the importance of incorporating regional genetic data in genetic studies and emphasizes the need for further research to elucidate the complex genetic landscape, which can, in turn, support the development of an indigenous STR marker list specific to India. Several indigenous genetic markers, not included in widely used global databases, have proven to be highly informative in the Indian population. These markers offer valuable insights into genetic diversity and population structure, aiding forensic applications such as individual identification and kinship analysis. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.