Genetic Diseases from Inbreeding

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between inbreeding and genetic diseases, exploring the implications of genetic diversity, particularly in the context of Ashkenazi Jews. Participants examine various hypotheses regarding intelligence and genetic predispositions, as well as the potential existence of reverse-dominant genetic diseases.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants reference a study suggesting a link between inbreeding and genetic diseases, while others express skepticism about the implications of this research.
  • One participant challenges the idea that intelligence can be significantly altered in a gene pool over a relatively short time frame, citing the complexity of the brain and historical context.
  • Another participant proposes non-genetic factors contributing to the success of Ashkenazi Jews, including cultural and intellectual traditions.
  • There is a discussion about the nature of genetic diseases, with one participant suggesting that recessive genetic diseases are more likely to manifest through inbreeding.
  • A claim is made that certain genetic diseases, like Tay-Sachs and Gaucher's, could correlate with higher intelligence, although this is presented as a hypothesis needing further exploration.
  • A question is raised about the concept of reverse-dominant genetic diseases, prompting further inquiry into their existence.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the implications of inbreeding and its effects on genetic diseases, with no consensus reached on the validity of the hypotheses presented. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the existence of reverse-dominant genetic diseases.

Contextual Notes

Some claims rely on assumptions about genetic inheritance and the historical context of intelligence, which may not be universally accepted. The discussion also highlights the complexity of genetic interactions and the need for further research.

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The thesis presented sounds too much like the proposal that black slaves were bred to be more physical, less intelligent and in turn better breeders over a span of several hundred years. I doubt that any group of humans could alter the intelligence from their gene pool substantially within the last 2000 years. The brain is too complex an organ, whose recent major changes (such as to homo sapiens sapiens) took place over the past 30,000-100,000 years. Granted, there have been more reasons to value intelligence as a tool for survival since the onset of civilization, ~3000 BC, but this should be reflected in the population as a whole.

[Are there genetic diseases from outbreeding?]
 
Four nongenetic reasons possible for Ashkenazi success:

A tradition of intellectualism.

Reliance on the nonmaterial.

Rational interpretation of the Torah.

An advanced social perspective.
 
[Are there genetic diseases from outbreeding?]

My understanding is that since genetic diseases tend to be recessive, one is more likely to be paired with two of these recessive genes via inbreeding than outbreeding.
 
Last edited:
This is very interesting:
But the thesis also has a strong point: it makes a clear and testable prediction. This is that people with a single copy of the gene for Tay-Sachs, or that for Gaucher's, or that for Niemann-Pick should be more intelligent than average.
And on a side note: I've studied Gaucher disease, where my supervisor commented that people with the disease are intelligent beings.
 
Reverse-dominant genetic disease

Loren Booda said:
Are there genetic diseases from outbreeding?
Do you mean a reverse-dominant disease — one that expresses when there is one copy of a particular gene but does not express when there are two copies?
 
Does that even exist?
 

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