Part I
As a shadchan, I come across genetic issues more often
then you would imagine. Some specific queries raised my
interest in the subject. I found myself doing research about
particular conditions and their medical consequences. Knowing
what the situation entails, I am able to a better
intermediary.
Although we would rather not face health and heredity issues,
we know that they can't be ignored. While there has been
increased awareness and even collective Dor Yesharim testing
in large seminaries, there is still a wide lack of
information.
Jewish Genetics
Regardless of ethnic or racial background, each of us has 5-
50 potentially disease-causing genetic alterations, according
to Francis S. Collins, MD, PHD of the Human Genome Research
Institute. Small genetic differences exist between different
ethnic groups. Certain ethnic groups have a higher risk for
certain genetic conditions than the general population.
Actually, "Jewish" genetic diseases are also found among non-
Jews. Tay-Sachs and cystic fibrosis, for example, are equally
prevalent outside the Jewish community. French-Canadians have
an independent version of Tay-Sachs, once erroneously
believed to be transmitted only by Jews. Indeed, the strong
education and testing initiative within the Jewish community
has actually made Tay-Sachs more common in non-Jews. Dr.
Gross explained that it is merely easier to identify carrier
status among Jews because looking at a few gene mutations can
identify 97 percent of all carriers.
The "Jewish" genetic disorders are a group of conditions that
are unusually common among Jews of Eastern European descent.
Although these diseases can affect Sephardi Jews and non-
Jews, they afflict Ashkenazi Jews more often — as much
as 20 to 100 times more frequently. The genetic disorders
carried by Sephardim differ from those of the Ashkenazim, but
the situation is generally far less clear-cut.
These statistics are compounded in populations that maintain
insularity in marrying within the same community, thereby
exaggerating the possibility of a carrier marrying a carrier,
whereas marrying out of the community may have watered down
the impact of carrier status. Ironically, by virtue of that
commitment, initial mutant genes have been reinforced and
have produced a litany of diseases that reappear within the
Ashkenazi Jewish population and carry a dozen recessive
genetic anomalies in a relatively high frequency.
An estimated one in seven Jews is a carrier of a genetic
disorder prevalent among Ashkenazi, Sephardic and Oriental
Jewish populations. Research implies that those genetic
conditions afflict Ashkenazi Jews 20 to 100 times more
frequently then Sephardic Jews and non-Jews. There are tests
being developed for cystic fibrosis, Fanconi anemia, Niemann-
Pick disease, familial dysautonomia, mucolipidosis IV,
glycogen storage disease and familial hyperinsulinism. There
is also interest in expanding the test "panel" to include
dominant diseases, such as Huntington disease, for which only
one copy of a gene can cause the disease to be expressed, and
compatibility testing for bone marrow registries.
[Next week: Ethics]
Rebbetzin Travis has many years of experience and success
in helping people through shiduchem. Please note that
all names have been changed unless specified with the
exception of well-known public figures like Gedolim
and educators. Any comments, questions and stories can be
sent to: travisdn@013.net or at (02) 656-3111
