Revazova Yulia Anatol'evna

Introduction. The purpose of the study is to calculate the age–related reproduction parameters of the rural population of a number of ethnic groups in the North Caucasus (menarche, menopause, the onset of sexual activity, the birth of the first and last child, the age limits of childbearing, protogenetic and intergenetic intervals, physiological and real reproductive periods).

Materials and methods. The survey of post-reproductive age women (over 45 years old) was conducted by local health officials at our request during a comprehensive genetic and epidemiological survey of the population of Karachay-Cherkessia and North Ossetia-Alania. Representatives of the main ethnic groups of these republics (Karachay, Abaza, Nogai, Circassian, Kumyk, Ossetian, Ingush and Russians of both republics) were interviewed. The analysis included 2,921 rural population survey questionnaires. In the case of a sufficient number of questionnaires collected, an analysis of temporal changes in the parameters under consideration (by decades) was carried out. For the Kumyk, Ingush and Russians of North Ossetia, the questionnaires turned out to be insufficient for such a division.

Results. The age of menarche and menopause fall within physiological limits. The age of birth of the first child reveals statistically significant differences between Karachay women and Kumyk women. The physiological reproductive period is several times longer than the real one. The Russians of North Ossetia have the largest protogenetic interval. The intergenetic interval has undergone significant time changes.

Discussion. When comparing with the results of similar studies of Komi-Permians, Shorians, Tatars, Bashkirs and Russians from other regions, it is suggested that splitting into larger time periods (for example, by generations rather than decades) will illustrate more significant temporal changes in these parameters.

Conclusion. The conducted research contributes to the compilation of a complete population-genetic portrait of the studied region. It was found that despite the territorial proximity and similar household structure, there are differences in the reproductive behavior of women belonging to different ethnic groups. However, all are characterized by an increase in the intergenetic interval, indicating the transition of the rural population of the North Caucasus to family planning and conscious childbearing. © 2025. This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license

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.