Tay-Sachs disease: high gene frequency in a non-Jewish population

Am J Hum Genet. 1975 May;27(3):287-91.

Abstract

A non-Amish "Pennsylvania Dutch" semi-isolate was found to have a high frequency of Tay-Sachs gene. This high frequency could be ascribed to founder effect and may represent, in microcosm, how this mechanism could have produced the high gene frequency among Ashkenazi Jews.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Consanguinity
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency*
  • Genes
  • Genetic Linkage
  • Heterozygote
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pedigree
  • Pennsylvania / epidemiology
  • Tay-Sachs Disease / genetics*