From Medical News Today: The Human Genome Project has allowed scientists to identify disease-related genes endemic to certain populations, giving a future to the treatment and prevention of diseases like Tay-Sachs, a neurological disorder affecting infants that is carried in the genes of one out of 27 American Ashkenazic Jews.
Genetic studies over the past half century have shed light on Jewish origins, the relatedness of Jewish communities, and the genetic basis of Mendelian disorders among Jewish peoples. Dr. Ostrer will discuss how these observations have been used to develop genetic testing programs and identify penetrance modifiers.
We don’t speak the lingo, but we think this means Jewish couples won’t have to be so worried about “modifying their penetrance” to protect their future offspring.