Medical genetics of Jews

The medical genetics of Jewish people is the study, screening and treatment of genetic disorders that are more common in particular Jewish populations than in the population as a whole. The genetics of Ashkenazi Jews have been particularly well-studied, resulting in the discovery of many genetic disorders that are associated with this ethnic group . In contrast, the medical genetics of Sephardic Jews and Oriental Jews are more complicated, since they are more genetically diverse and there are consequently no genetic disorders that are more common in these groups as a whole; instead they tend to have the genetic diseases that are common in their various countries of origin. Several organizations offer screening for Ashkenazi genetic diseases, such as Dor Yeshorim , and these screening programs have had a significant impact, in particular by reducing the number of cases of Tay–Sachs disease . Talia Bloch Sephardi Jews lack screening programs for their genetic diseases Haaretz 21/08/2009 Gina Kolata Nightmare or the Dream Of a New Era in Genetics? PMID 11715044 . : Unknown parameter |month= ignored ( help )

The medical genetics of Jews is the study, screening, and treatment of genetic disorders more common in particular Jewish populations than in the population as a whole. The genetics of Ashkenazi Jews have been particularly well-studied, resulting in the discovery of many genetic disorders associated with this ethnic group . In contrast, the medical genetics of Sephardic Jews and Mizrahi Jews are more complicated, since they are more genetically diverse and consequently no genetic disorders are more common in these groups as a whole; instead, they tend to have the genetic diseases common in their various countries of origin. Several organizations, such as Dor Yeshorim , offer screening for Ashkenazi genetic diseases, and these screening programs have had a significant impact, in particular by reducing the number of cases of Tay–Sachs disease .

Autosomal recessive conditions that affect ethnic Jews more frequently The medical genetics of Jews have been studied to identify and prevent some rare genetic diseases that, while still rare , are more common than average among people of Jewish descent. There are several autosomal recessive genetic disorders that are more common than average in ethnically Jewish populations, particularly Ashkenazi Jews , because of relatively recent population bottlenecks and because of consanguineous marriage (marriage of second cousins or closer). These two phenomena reduce genetic diversity and raise the chance that two parents will carry a mutation in the same gene and pass on both mutations to a child. The genetics of Ashkenazi Jews have been particularly well studied, because the phenomenon affects them the most. This has resulted in the discovery of many genetic disorders associated with this ethnic group . The medical genetics of Sephardic Jews and Mizrahi Jews are more complicated, because they are genetically more diverse, and therefore no genetic disorders are more common in these groups as a whole; instead, they tend to have the genetic diseases common in their various countries of origin. Several organizations, such as Dor Yeshorim , offer screening for Ashkenazi genetic diseases, and these programs have done much, particularly by reducing the instance of Tay–Sachs disease .

Autosomal recessive conditions that affect ethnic Jews more frequently The medical genetics of Jews have been studied to identify and prevent some rare genetic diseases that, while still rare , are more common than average among people of Jewish descent. There are several autosomal recessive genetic disorders that are more common than average in ethnically Jewish populations, particularly Ashkenazi Jews , because of relatively recent population bottlenecks and because of consanguineous marriage (marriage of second cousins or closer). These two phenomena reduce genetic diversity and raise the chance that two parents will carry a mutation in the same gene and pass on both mutations to a child. The genetics of Ashkenazi Jews have been particularly well studied because the phenomenon affects them the most. This has resulted in the discovery of many genetic disorders associated with this ethnic group . The medical genetics of Sephardic Jews and Mizrahi Jews are more complicated because they are genetically more diverse, and therefore no genetic disorders are more common in these groups as a whole; instead, they tend to have the genetic diseases common in their various countries of origin. Several organizations, such as Dor Yeshorim , offer screening for Ashkenazi genetic diseases, and these programs have done much, particularly by reducing the incidence of Tay–Sachs disease .