Abraham D. Lavender
DNA Origins and Current Consequences for Sephardi,
Mizrahi, and Ashkenazi Males and Females:
Latest Results from Medical, Genealogical-Familial, and National-Ethnic Research
Abstract
Since the 1970s, DNA has increasingly been accepted as part of scholarly research in medical, genealogical-familial, and national-ethnic areas. Jewish communities have been especially receptive to the use of DNA in all three of these areas. This article compares the two major ethnic groups within world Jewry, Sephardim-Mizrahim and Askenazim, on several major DNA issues. Explanations are given for the frequencies of diseases which are found mostly in Jewish communities, with special attention to Tay-Sachs and breast cancer in the Ashkenazi community. The debate over whether these diseases are only "Ashkenazi" diseases or "Jewish" diseases also effecting Sephardim-Mizrahim is discussed. Analysis of the genetic diversity of national and regional groups gives special attention to Sephardim-Mizrahim communities throughout the world, with an explanation as to why this diversity is not found among Ashkenazim. Male DNA patterns are shown to be similar for Ashkenazim and most Sephardim-Mizrahim communities, but possible explanations are presented for the diversity of Jewish female DNA patterns found throughout the world. Both sides are presented concerning the scholarly argument as to whether the "founding mothers" of Jewish communities were from the Middle East and accompanied Jewish men into diaspora, and probably were Jewish, or whether they were local non-Jewish women who married and merged into Jewish communities.
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