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Why Are These Genetic Diseases More Common in Ashkenazi Jews?

Ashkenazi is the term used to describe Jews who have ancestors from Eastern and Central Europe. Today, there are Ashkenazi Jews all over the world and many are marrying outside of the Jewish community. However, for centuries political and religious factors ensured their genetic isolation from the population at large.

As is the case with other groups who live, or lived, in relative isolation – such as the French Canadians and Icelanders – scientists theorize that most Ashkenazi Jews can trace their ancestry back to a small number of founders.

The founder theory is of particular interest to genet