Genetic studies in Medzev, an isolate in south-eastern Slovakia. 1. History, demography, marriage patterns.

In Medzev, a village located in South-Eastern Slovakia, the secular variation of two indices of genetic isolation has been studied. It could be seen that this village was highly isolated till the beginning of the 20th century. Both indices show a tendency to increase in the first five decades of this century. For the entire period from 1766-1950 the coefficient of inbreeding estimated by the method of isonymy was found to be F = 0.0074 with different ratios of random (Fr) and non-random (Fn) components in particular periods. The coefficient of inbreeding estimated from the ecclesiastical dispensations for marriages comes to F = 0.0019. The genetic significance of the changes in the population structure of this village will be analyzed in further studies.