Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By richards on September 5, 2015

Ashkenazi Jewish Genetic Diseases: 19 Disease Panel

Ashkenazi Jewish Genetic Diseases: 38 Disease Panel

Sephardic/Mizrahi Jewish Genetic Diseases

There are a numberof genetic disease for which persons of Jewish heritage (at least one grandparent) are more likely to be carriers of than the general population. Carriers are healthy individuals, unaffected by the disease for which they carry. If both parents are carriers of a gene mutation for the same condition, there is a 25% chance, with each pregnancy, of having an affected child. These diseases are all serious and can be fatal and or life altering to children born with them.

There are different genetic concerns for people of Ashkenazi Jewish background (German, French or Eastern European), and people of Sephardic (Mediterranean) or Mizrahi (Persian/Iranian or Middle Eastern) background. Regardless of specific Jewish background, all Jewish and interfaith couples should have preconception carrier screening for the Jewish genetic diseases

It is estimated that nearly 1 in 2Ashkenazi Jews in the United States is a carrier of at least one of 38Jewish genetic diseases. Please be aware that there are many laboratories offering Ashkenazi Jewish genetic disease screening with varying panels. Individuals may also opt to do expanded carrier screening to include disorders not necessarily more common in the Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry (Pan Ethnic Panels). You should discuss these options with your physician or genetic counselor.

There is no single preconception carrier-screening panel for people of Sephardic or Mizrahi background. Carrier screening is dependent upon country of origin. People of Sephardic or Mizrahi background should seek genetic counseling.

Read this article:
Jewish Genetic Diseases - Jewish Genetic Disease Consortium

Category: Ashkenazi
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