We report an analysis of allelic diversity at short tandem repeat polymorphisms within the fragile
XA locus in 1069 male volunteers from twelve Indonesian sub-populations. An odd numbered allele
of DXS548 was found at high frequency in all Indonesian populations. Greater allelic diversity was
identified at the loci under study than has been previously reported for an Asian population. These
differences distinguish the Indonesian population from all previously reported Asian, European and
African populations. A high frequency of small premutation alleles, 4/120 (3.3%, 95% CI
0.9–8.3%), was identified in the Moluccan population of Hiri Island.