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We conducted the first genetic analysis of a wide a range of rural Russian populations in European Russia with a panel of common DNA markers commonly used in criminalistics genetic identification. We examined a total of 647 samples from indigenous ethnic Russian populations in Arkhangelsk, Belgorod, Voronezh, Kursk, Rostov, Ryazan, and Orel regions. We employed a multiplex genotyping kit, COrDIS Plus, to genotype Short Tandem Repeat (STR) loci, which included the genetic marker panel officially recommended for DNA identification in the Russian Federation, the United States, and the European Union. In the course of our study, we created a database of allelic frequencies, examined the distribution of alleles and genotypes in seven rural Russian populations, and defined the genetic relationships between these populations. We found that, although multidimensional analysis indicated a difference between the Northern gene pool and the rest of the Russian European populations, a pairwise comparison using 19 STR markers among all populations did not reveal significant differences. This is in concordance with previous studies, which examined up to 12 STR markers of urban Russian populations. Therefore, the database of allelic frequencies created in this study can be applied for forensic examinations and DNA identification among the ethnic Russian population over European Russia. We also noted a decrease in the levels of heterozygosity in the northern Russian population compared to ethnic populations in southern and central Russia, which is consistent with trends identified previously using classical gene markers and analysis of mitochondrial DNA.

Changes in the endogamy indices of district populations of the Central Chernozem region of Russia during the past 100 years were studied. The size of an elementary population in this region increased from that of a rural municipality in the mid-20th century to that of an administrative district in the late 20th century.

The frequencies and spectra of surnames have been analyzed in groups of raions (districts) of the Belgorod oblast (region) with different degrees of population subdivision. The "family name portraits" of districts with low (0.00003 less sign f* < 0.00022, f*(r) = 0.00015) and moderate (0.00023 < f*(r) < 0.00042, f*(r) = 0.00029) inbreeding levels are similar both to each other and to the "family name portrait" of the Belgorod oblast as a whole. Districts with high subdivision levels (0.00043 < f*(r) < 0.00125, f*(r) = 0.00072) had very distinctive surname spectra and the highest surname frequencies. Intense immigration to the Belgorod oblast significantly affects its population genetic structure, decreasing the population subdivision.

The gene pool of the entire population of all the 21 raions (districts) of the Belgorod oblast (region) has been studied using anthroponymic data. Considerable geographic variations of the number of surnames and the degree of population subdivision (0.00003 < f(r)* < 0.00125) in the 21 districts have been demonstrated. Districts with low population subdivision levels are mainly located in the central and southwestern raions of the Belgorod oblast, contain an urbanized area (city), and border on Ukraine (they are characterized by a considerable Ukrainian immigration). Urbanization significantly affects the population structure of the Belgorod oblast. In urbanized districts, rural populations lack the relationships between the population size, number of surnames, and population subdivision level (f(r)).

Based on the characteristics of body height and weight in 4905 newborns, the population-genetic structure of the rural raions (districts) of Kursk oblast (region) and in the city of Kursk was determined. An "adaptive norm area" with respect to body weight and height was distinguished for newborns in Kursk oblast. On the average, the anthropometric parameters of 20% of infants from the studied populations fell within this area. The height and growth of newborns exhibited a pronounced geographic variation and depended on the level of urbanization, as well as the sex and the health status of the newborns. In district populations, the body height and the variances of the body height and weight increased with an increase in endogamy. Therefore, the relative numbers of newborns with large values of both weight and height, as well as those with a medium body height and a small body weight, were increased. Conversely, the relative numbers of newborns with a low weight and height and with a disturbed weight-height correlation were decreased.

The distributions of AB0 and Rhesus phenotypes and the corresponding genes in the population of Kursk oblast were studied. Based on these data, genetic differentiation of rural populations with respect to the d gene frequency was revealed. The differentiation was determined by the differences in the genetic and demographic structure of these rural populations. The frequency of homozygotes for the recessive gene d and the incidence of malformations affecting the children's viability increased with an increase in the inbreeding level of a population. Genetic distances between the population of Kursk oblast and other populations were estimated.

The coefficient of inbreeding and its components were calculated for populations of rural districts of Kursk oblast with the use of the isonymic method. The following values were obtained: F(it) = 0.000567, Fst = 0.000650, and Fis = 0.000083. The Fst value agreed with the value of Malecot's local inbreeding coefficient (0.000201). In the districts where the proportions of families with frequent family names (FFNs; a frequency of 0.001 and more) were 50% and over, these family names were sufficient to adequately describe the population structure. The migration index and the index of family-name diversity were calculated. Significant correlations were revealed between Fst, the migration index, the index of family-name diversity, Malecot's local inbreeding, the mean square distance between birthplaces of spouses, the effective migration pressure, and the coefficient of linear systematic pressure.

Investigation of the the genetics, demography, and epidemiology of congenital malformations (CMs) in Kursk oblast revealed statistically significant correlations between population parameters and the incidence of CM in the rural rations of the oblast. The general prevalence of CM and that of the separate CM forms ("guard" CM, multiple CM, hemangioma, congenital heart disease, congenital myelocele, talipes valgus, congenital femoral luxation, polydactyly, cryptorchism) increased with an increase in the average marital age of men and women of the reproductive part of the population and with an increase in the level of the populations homozygosity (an increase in the local consanguinity and ethnic marriage assortativeness, a decrease in the populations's migration activity, an increase in the proportion of genotypes homozygous for recessive genes, etc).

Total selection indices and their components in the Kursk Oblast, calculated from Crow's equations, are: Itot = = 0.403, I(f) = 0.345, Im = 0.043. The selection intensity was higher in rural than in urban populations. The levels of total selection and differential fertility in rural populations depended on the genetic and demographic structure of these populations. An increase of homozygosity in the rural populations (decreases in the mean square distance between spouses' birthplaces and in the frequency of long-range migrations, increase in ethnic assortativeness, etc.) increased the selection intensity.

The population of the Kurskaya oblast (administrative region) was described using the Malecot's model of isolation by distance. Differences in inbreeding level between populations of raions (districts) were found; the differences were determined by degrees of urbanization, age, and effective size of the populations. In the center of the oblast, an area was found with the minimum mean square distance between birthplaces of spouses, low effective migration pressure, and high isolation by distance. In populations of raions, a relationship was found between population inbreeding level and incidences of congenital malformations (CM) and multiple congenital malformations (MCM), which affected the viability of infants.

Analysis of marital structure revealed that 82% of men and 77% of women that contracted marriages in the Kurskaya oblast (administrative region) in 1987-1990 were born in this region. The average coefficient of demographic migration in the Kurskaya oblast was m = 0.345. The majority of migrants to the Kurskaya oblast were from neighboring areas: Central and Central Chernozem Zones of Russia, Ukraine, and Moldova. Marriage assortativeness with respect to the birthplaces of the spouses was K = 0.090. Migration activity increased with urbanization of the population. Migration structure of local populations was determined by mode, level, and direction of interaction between the processes underlying it.