[Population structure and the anthropogenetic traits of Shortzy in the Mras-Su River basin]. / Populiatsionnaia struktura i antropogeneticheskie priznaki shortsev basseina reki Mrassu.

Demographic and phenotypic study of a population of Shortzy living along the Mras-Su River and in the Abakan River valley was carried out. The results of population genetic analysis of certain monogenic characters (AB0, PTC) as well as some dermatoglyphic traits and qualitative anthropometric traits are presented. The population was shown to be isolated. The level of gene flow in the population from the outside regions is equal to about 3-6%. The structure of the mountain Shortzy population was shown to approach the "stepping-stone" type. Considerable heterogeneity in the distribution of the traits in question was revealed. The similarity measures in the distribution of the values of three groups of traits were shown to be related to the extent of gene flow between subpopulations. Based on this analysis, two assumptions on the possible origins of the Shortzy population which had migrated from the mountains to the Abakan River valley about 250 years ago are formulated. Most probably, the modern phenotype of this group of Shortzy reflects the influence of other ethnic groups.

[Features of the growth and physical development of mentally retarded school age children]. / Osobennosti rosta i fizicheskogo razvitiia umstvenno otstalykh detei shkol'nogo vozrasta.

Using an expanded antropometric programme, the authors conducted a comparative study of the growth and physical development of oligophrenic children at the stage of debility (n = 504) and of normal children (n = 551) aged 8 to 16 years. The study has demonstrated that the size of the body in oligophrenic children is lower as compared to the control group which is due to a less intensive character of growth processes in mentally retarded children in the pubertal period and also a less intensive growth of body segments at later age stages. It is suggested that oligophrenic children have a longer adolescent period and that the growth processes in such children may stabilize at an older age.