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Promotional offers of 14 months or more require minimum monthly payments as disclosed in the offer. See card agreement for detais including when the default rate applies. Sears cards are issued by Citibank (South Dakota), NA Sears Solutions cards are issued by HSBC Bank Nevada, NA The Sears Trademark is registered and used under License for Sears Brands, LLC. 1338440 Be Well Chiropractic Center Dr. Jason Ellis W Maple Rd. C /9114tott4ithArg offi lieu/ 49cati6lit 30000 Orchard Lake Rd., Suite B (at 13 1/2 Mile Rd. on the east side of the street) 4 NI, Rd AAA 13 Mi. Rd. in Farmington Hills! Phone : (248) 489-4044 www.BeWeliChiropractic.com "Thank you to all our patients for your continued support." A36 February 7 2008 A Genetic Goidmine Washington, D.C. Offer ends February 15th 2008 -Easy single switch-control -One year in-home warranty -Emergency battery back-up -Patented, quiet and smooth lift system -Available in several beautiful fabrics and patterns Health & Fitness N 9-year-old daughter, the product of a mixed marriage, has a 50-50 chance of being a carrier. It's difficult to trace this wayward gene as my family tree disap- pears into the fog of the 19th-century diaspora. The only thing scientists can say for certain is that, like some 40- odd other genetic disorders that are common among Jews, this cancer is a tragic symbol of our shared ancestry. J ews are a genetic goldmine. No one wants to resurrect the pre-genetic notion of race in which people were ranked by characteristics. But in order to offer invaluable insights into the origins of dis- The Way We Are ease, scientists While the first sketch of the human are committed genome, unveiled in 2001, under- to studying dis- scored that humans are more alike tinctive popu- than different, the sequencing of the lations based entire genome has ushered in a more on geography precarious era. Geneticists are identify- (Icelanders), ing chunks of DNA, known as haplo- cultures (gyp- types, and the results of their research sies) or religions (Amish). stretches the limits of acceptable pub- Since the founding of Ashkenazi lic discourse. Jewry until recent decades, despite HapMaps suggest that humanity is being scattered to winds of the world, better understood as a collection of the rate of non-Jewish lineages that overlapping but identifiable popula- have slipped into the Jewish tions that, remarkably, mir- gene pool, per generation, ror traditional racial and AURA. HAM'S is estimated at 0.5 per- ethnic groupings. Genetic CUM DHEN cent. Disease genes spread blocks linked to human 4* .11 throughout the Jewish world characteristics, including PfHTITY, and have stayed there. body type, behavior, skill the PEOPLE In the late 1960s, when sets and brain architecture, my aunt, grandmother and vary among ancestral mother died of breast or populations. ovarian cancers, our family Harmful mutated genes believed these were tragic usually disappear because Entine's book coincidences. But when my people who carry them die sister discovered a lump at earlier ages or have dif- in her breast five years ago ficulty finding mates. Why and diagnosed with breast cancer, a haven't the deadliest genes passed out genetic test discovered a variation of of the Jewish gene pool, eradicated by the BRCA2 gene, one of three forms natural selection? of this cancer that target Jews almost Three scientists — Henry exclusively. Harpending and Jason Hardy of While the general female population the University of Utah and Gregory faces a 10 percent possibility of devel- Cochran — have offered a fascinat- oping breast or ovarian cancer, the life- ing and scientifically testable theory time risk with one of these mutations suggesting that Jews may be compen- may rise to 80 percent. sated by nature for suffering diseases Most geneticists believe that these because the genes that partly cause three mutations trace to Jews who them are linked directly or indirectly lived 1,000 or more years ago when to intelligence. European Jewry numbered fewer These scientists, all Christians, were than 25,000 people. As Ashkenazi intrigued by the remarkable success of Jews passed through a "population Jews — insert Jewish doctor or lawyer bottleneck" and their numbers began joke here — and their startlingly high to explode, these genes spread quickly. scores on IQ tests, which almost all They became, along with cultural sig- scientists believe are heavily influenced natures such as devotion to the Torah by genetics. Ashkenazi Jews average and Talmud, markers of being Jewish. between 107 and 115, significantly I was tested and found out that I carry the BRCA2 mutation; and my Genetic on page A38 RACE, 1 And the 0 NA of CHOSEN