The use of the method of isonymy in describing the genetic structure of multiethnic populations

Abstract

Introduction. The method of isonymy has long been successfully used in population-genetic studies by both domestic and foreign authors. The ability to describe large areas of study relatively quickly and cheaply is one of the significant advantages of the method. The mandatory conditions for the application of the method are the duration of the existence of surnames in the population and their strict patrilineal inheritance. This report examines the feasibility of using the method of isonymy in describing the population structure of a region with a multiethnic population.

Materials and methods. Data on the frequencies of surnames for this study were obtained from the archive of the Laboratory of Genetic Epidemiology of the Research Center for Medical Genetics in the Adyge-Khablsky district of Karachay-Cherkessia and the Mozdoksky district of North Ossetia-Alania. None of the ethnic groups inhabiting these areas exceeds half of the population. All calculations are performed using standard methods.

Results. Six positive and significant correlation coefficients were obtained between the standard population-genetic characteristics calculated based on the frequency of occurrence of surnames in the area, and obtained from other sources.

Conclusion. According to Dixon and Mood’s signs tests, it is acceptable to use the method of isonymy in analyzing the population structure of a region with a heterogeneous ethnic composition. However, with one caveat – for the majority of ethnic groups inhabiting the studied region, the permissibility of using surnames as a population-genetic marker is shown. The second conclusion based on the results of the study is the confirmation of the previously repeatedly stated assumption that Malécot’s isolation-by-distance model is applicable only to populations with a homogeneous ethnic composition of the population.

Acknowledgements. The research was carried out within the framework of the state assignment of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.

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