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Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are single base-pair variations that exist between individuals. There are approximately a million or more SNPs located throughout the genome of each individual animal. Therefore, by taking advantage of these unique polymorphisms, SNPs can be used to resolve questions of unknown parentage in the livestock industry. Currently a panel of 88 SNPs, obtained from a panel of 121 SNPs originally created by USDA-MARC, is commercially available from Fluidigm®. The objective of this study was to determine whether the number of SNPs from the 88-SNP marker panel could be reduced to form a smaller, more cost-efficient parentage-testing SNP panel. A smaller panel would benefit farmers and researchers alike in reducing the time spent in running and analyzing the test, as well as reducing the overall cost for the procedure. Genotype data from over 3000 cattle samples containing offspring and potential parents were examined using two parentage calling software packages. Parentage assessment was analyzed using nine SNP panels of varying size. It was determined that a panel of 71 SNPs, chosen from the original 88 SNPs, was the minimum number required to maintain statistical accuracy and reliability.

Positive identification of a deceased individual is one of the major aspects of modem forensic death investigations. Incomplete or fragmented skeletal remains pose a problem for identification because the normal methods forensic anthropologists employ for compiling a biological profile of the decedent are of no use. Ancestry is an important aspect of the biological profile that, when known, can help narrow the focus of investigations by excluding many individuals from the search scope. This thesis describes molecular genetic methods which can be used to estimate ancestry in order to aid in forensic identification when other methods fail. The Y chromosome is one aspect of the genome shown to contain markers which are associated with the geographical origins of its possessor. The laboratory aspect of this research involved taking bone samples from humerii, extracting DNA from these samples and then sequencing a number of Y-SNPs in order to predict the biogeographical origins of each sample. Performing this research demonstrated the steps involved in this type of genetic ancestral analysis. At present, anthropology can only distinguish between major population groups. However, as research continues to be performed, the discriminatory power of molecular genetic ancestral analyses such as this has the potential to be further refined so that sub-populations may be distinguished between. This could be of great value if introduced into the forensic community.