Get information about genetic conditions, find resources, access genetic screening, and more
Genetic disorders occur when one or both copies of a gene have undergone a change, or mutation. Because of the common ancestry that many Jews share, some conditions appear in the Jewish population more frequently than in the general population. Many Jewish genetic disorders are passed down in an autosomal recessive fashion, which means they can hide in families until two carriers have a child with the disorder. Tay-Sachs is perhaps the most well-known Jewish genetic disorder, but there are many others.
We’re here to help. The Norton & Elaine Sarnoff Center for Jewish Genetics has information to answer your general questions about genetics, Jewish genetic disorders (including those more common among Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews), carrier screening, and how Jewish law and ethics relate to genetic health.
Articles and Events
Newborn Screening and Carrier Screening
Carrier and newborn screenings both offer families information about the risk of a child
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By Shira Gerstein, Sarnoff Center Associate Board Member While my classmates were gathered in the
October Awareness Months
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