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For Jews who are using this article to make all kinds of claims about "Jewish DNA" or whatnot, the original study doesn't say what you think it says. 1/ https://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-ashkenazi-jews-dna-diseases-20140909-story.html
The purpose of the original study was to better understand genetically recessive diseases, which Ashkenazi Jews are prone to.
Indeed, Ashkenazi Jews are well known for marrying each other at relatively high rates and having babies together, and there are more AJs than Amish.
Indeed, Ashkenazi Jews are well known for marrying each other at relatively high rates and having babies together, and there are more AJs than Amish.
Another thing is that AJs by birth can trace their genetic material back to a relatively small number of people, referred to as Founders.
The standard European founders established in Europe from the Mideast about 12000 years ago while the AJ founders appeared 600-800 years ago.
The standard European founders established in Europe from the Mideast about 12000 years ago while the AJ founders appeared 600-800 years ago.
Again: according to this article, modern Europeans' DNA came from the Near East-the Levant-about 12-25K years ago.
Ashkenazi Jewish genetic material is from the Near East more recently but we have that in common.
(And when I say Askenazi Jewish, I mean by birth.)
Ashkenazi Jewish genetic material is from the Near East more recently but we have that in common.
(And when I say Askenazi Jewish, I mean by birth.)
Using a technique called Principal Component Analysis, the researchers "isolated" the Ashkenazi as a separate genetic population in order to compare them with other European and Near Eastern populations for the purposes of understanding genetic predispositions to disease.
What this does *not* show is that these populations have a great deal in common, despite how disparate they look.
The purpose of PCA is to highlight those differences so that comparisons can be made.
The purpose of PCA is to highlight those differences so that comparisons can be made.
It's worth noting that in writing the manuscript, they make reference to the fraction of genetic sequences that are unique to Ashkenazi Jews, even though as fellow human beings, the vast majority is similar or even the same.
In order to better understand genetic predispositions.
In order to better understand genetic predispositions.
OK, I've got work to do as I have to feed my family.
But the lesson here is that if you are going to quote a newspaper article about a scientific study, be very careful with the claims you make using that information.
But the lesson here is that if you are going to quote a newspaper article about a scientific study, be very careful with the claims you make using that information.
It is very important that you don't use it to make claims that are *outside the scope of the research* such as stating that Ashkenazikeit as a cultural phenomenon is rooted in genetics.
Biological determinism is destined to be a non-starter for discussing issues of peoplehood.
Biological determinism is destined to be a non-starter for discussing issues of peoplehood.
And in any case, don't confuse the tendency to have offspring with genetically similar individuals with genetic uniqueness, and definitely not with genetic superiority.
That's just gross.
That's just gross.
And when I said Ashkenazi by birth I made a mistake. I meant to say, those who are offspring of those genetically close pairings. One can also be Ashkenazi by tradition and culture.
The gene pool is expanding all the time, and that will make Ashkenazi Jews less prone to disease.
The gene pool is expanding all the time, and that will make Ashkenazi Jews less prone to disease.
