Massively parallel sequencing of 10 autosomal STRs in Chinese using the ion torrent personal genome machine (PGM)

•Multiplex STR genotyping of 10 autosomal STRs is feasible by Ion PGM™ system.•Sequence variations of 10 autosomal STR loci in 165 Chinese individuals were presented, and 8 new alleles of STR loci were observed.•D3S1358, D2S441, D19S433 and D7S820 demonstrated an increased allele number obtained by MPS typing compared to CE typing.•D13S317, D5S818 and D7S820 displayed variants adjacent to the core repeats and caused discordances between MPS and CE typing results.•D13S317, D16S539, D2S441, D5S818, D7S820 and TPOX displayed significant variations in the flanking regions.