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The results of this study, in combination with previously obtained results, demonstrate that Y-chromosome testing and mini-STR methodology can contribute to the identification of human remains of victims of revolutionary violence from World War II.

In order to elucidate genetic composition of European grayling (Thymallus thymallus) populations in the Western Balkans, the partial mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region was sequenced and 12 microsatellite loci genotyped in 14 populations originating from tributaries of the Adriatic and Danube drainages. Eleven mtDNA haplotypes were found, one confined to the Adriatic clade, one to the Alpine group and the rest to the 'Balkan' grayling phylogenetic clade. Haplotypes from the Balkan clade were confined to the Danube drainage and constituted two groups: northern group with haplotypes found in the Slovenian part of the Danube drainage, and southern group, consisting from Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro. Substantial genetic distance between northern and southern groups of haplotypes (0.75-1.8%) and well supported divisions within the northern group indicate very structured grayling population within the studied Danube basin that most probably did not evolve due to vicariance but rather as a consequence of multiple colonization waves that might have occurred during the Pleistocene. Furthermore, genetic distance of *4% between Adriatic and Danube populations' haplotypes, suggest that their separation occurred in mid-Pliocene. These findings imply a complex colonization pattern of the Western Balkans drainages. Microsatellite data also confirm high genetic diversity in Western Balkans populations of grayling (on average 7.5 alleles per microsatellite locus and H exp 0.58). Limited stocking activities were detected based on microsatellites and mtDNA data. Regarding current knowledge of grayling phylogeography appropriate management strategies were proposed to preserve unique, autochthonous grayling populations in Western Balkan.

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This study offers the first report on variation sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome b (MT-CYTB) gene in populations from Bosnia (northeastern Bosnia). This study was designed on the analysis of the genetic diversity of two populations of different cultural-anthropological and genetic origin, Roma population and native/non-Roma population. The main aim of our study was to estimate the usefulness of the CYTB sequence in the analysis of genetic categorization of different populations and intergroup diversity, as well as to provide some additional information on haplogroup-associated polymorphisms within the CYTB region in defining haplogroup status. Estimation of the genetic diversity was done using intra and intergroup genetic indices. The population-specific polymorphisms have been found in both categories of the populations. The results of the analysis of genetic differentiation show significant pairwise Fst differences between the Romani and native populations. Also, registered significant genetic differentiation is illustrated on the level of genetic variation between subpopulations of the Roma and non-Roma origin. The important result in our study is the confirmation of the significance of the triad of polymorphisms T14783C-G15043A-G15301A, indicating the influence of Asian component of the maternal gene pool on the genetic structure of the studied population of the Roma. Our data show that the haplogroup polymorphisms exist in the CYTB region and can provide useful information on the haplogroups that were defined only by the control region of the mtDNA. The results of this study indicate the region of CYTB gene can be a benefit in providing some additional information in the analysis of genetic structure of human populations and can be additionally applied in population studies.

This paper presents the first estimation of polymorphism of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian-Croatian Shepherd dog Tornjak in Bosnia and Herzegovina using 10 microsatellite loci, which are an integral part of StockMarks? for Canine Genotyping Kit (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA). Ten microsatellite loci used in this study are appropriate for assessing the genetic diversity for this breed. Measures of genetic diversity were estimated based on allelic and genotypic calculations, observed (HO) and expected (HE) heterozygosities, deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and polymorphism information content (PIC). The lowest genetic diversity was estimated for locus PEZ20, and the highest for PEZ6 locus. Observed and expected mean heterozygosities were 0.7261 and 0.7392, respectively. Statistically significant deviation (p<0.05) from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was found for PEZ1, PEZ12, PEZ3 and PEZ6 loci. The PIC values suggested that all markers (100%) are very informative (PIC > 0.5) in terms of their suitability for genetic diversity studies. When all observed parameters are taken into account (observed and expected heterozygosities, PIC, number of detective and effective alleles, number of detected and maximum possible genotypes, major allele frequency and major allele frequency index), we can conclude that PEZ6 locus shows the highest genetic diversity while PEZ3 displays the lowest. However, assuming values of observed and expected heterozygosities, as well as PIC, we consider loci PEZ20 to be the least diverse, but this locus has more effective alleles and more genotypes present than PEZ3. These preliminary results are the first genetic diversity survey of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian-Croatian Shepherd dog Tornjak in Bosnia and Herzegovina and could be useful to the dog breeders in designing and managing breeding strategies. Summarizing the information above, we can conclude that the population of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian-Croatian Shepherd dog Tornjak from B&H is not affected by substantial loss of genetic diversity. Results of our study indicate presence of reasonably high level of genetic variability and lead to a better understanding of this dog breed.

Results of this study are in agreement with the previous studies, indicating that the three populations in Bosnia and Herzegovina have the same genetic background. There is no significant differentiation among regional populations, pointing to absence of geographic influence. The Bosnian population is clearly located within the European gene pool.

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