Genetic Disorders Among Arab Populations

Genetic Disorders Among Arab Populations
Author: Ahmad S. Teebi
Publisher:
Total Pages: 538
Release: 1997
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 9780195093056

Few regions of the world have a more varied physiography or a richer ethnic, religious, social, and cultural mix than the Arab world. As a consequence, Arabs are genetically diverse despite their linguistic and religious cohesion. High but variable rates of inbreeding prevail in all Arab countries with numerous examples of isolates among them. These include some Bedouin groups, Nubians, Druze, Jews, and others. Arab populations have high frequencies of autosomal recessive disorders, homozygosity of autosomal dominant and X-linked traits, and a wealth of new syndromes and variants, the majority of which are autosomal recessive. Genetic disorders that cause major health problems include hemoglobinopathies, neurogenetic disorders, inherited metabolic diseases, and inborn error of morphogenesis. Because of their characteristically high prevalence, some of these disorders are considered markers for Arab populations. This book presents the unique profile of genetic disorders and variants in Arabs. In addition, it describes their unusual demographic pattern including fertility rates and other population dimensions, family structure, magnitude and effects of consanguineous marriages and indicators of health and disease. Genetic counseling and the distinctive cultural and religious attitudes towards various genetic issues are also presented. Disorders that have increased tribal occurrences or are limited to large kindreds, as well as small geographic or religious isolates, are highlighted to facilitate their recognition, study, and management.

Consanguinity in Context

Consanguinity in Context
Author: Alan H. Bittles
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 325
Release: 2012-05-24
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1107376939

An essential guide to this major contemporary issue, Consanguinity in Context is a uniquely comprehensive account of intra-familial marriage. Detailed information on past and present religious, social and legal practices and prohibitions is presented as a backdrop to the preferences and beliefs of the 1100+ million people in consanguineous unions. Chapters on population genetics, and the role of consanguinity in reproductive behaviour and genetic variation, set the scene for critical analyses of the influence of consanguinity on health in the early years of life. The discussion on consanguinity and disorders of adulthood is the first review of its kind and is particularly relevant given the ageing of the global population. Incest is treated as a separate issue, with historical and present-day examples examined. The final three chapters deal in detail with practical issues, including genetic testing, education and counselling, national and international legislation and imperatives, and the future of consanguineous marriage worldwide.

Vogel and Motulsky's Human Genetics

Vogel and Motulsky's Human Genetics
Author: Michael Speicher
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 1006
Release: 2009-11-26
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 3540376542

The fourth edition of this classical reference book can once again be relied upon to present a cohesive and up-to-date exposition of all aspects of human and medical genetics. Human genetics has become one of the main basic sciences in medicine, and molecular genetics is increasingly becoming a major part of this field. This new edition integrates a wealth of new information - mainly describing the influence of the "molecular revolution" - including the principles of epigenetic processes which together create the phenotype of a human being. Other revisions are an improved layout, sub-division into a larger number of chapters, as well as two-colour print throughout for ease of reference, and many of the figures are now in full colour. For graduates and those already working in medical genetics.

Forbidden Relatives

Forbidden Relatives
Author: Martin Ottenheimer
Publisher: University of Illinois Press
Total Pages: 194
Release: 1996
Genre: Law
ISBN: 9780252065408

CONTENIDO: Laws prohibiting the marriage of relatives -- The reasons for U.S. laws against first cousin marriage -- European laws prohibiting the marriage of relatives -- European views of cousin marriage -- The evolutionary factor -- Biogenetics and first cousin marriage -- Culture and cousin marriage.

Negotiating Risk

Negotiating Risk
Author: Alison Shaw
Publisher: Berghahn Books
Total Pages: 298
Release: 2009
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 9781845455484

Drawing on fieldwork with British Pakistani clients of a UK genetics service, this book explores the personal and social implications of a 'genetic diagnosis'. Through case material and comparative discussion, the book identifies practical ethical dilemmas raised by new genetic knowledge and shows how, while being shaped by culture, these issues also cross-cut differences of culture, religion and ethnicity. The book also demonstrates how identifying a population-level elevated 'risk' of genetic disorders in an ethnic minority population can reinforce existing social divisions and cultural stereotypes. The book addresses questions about the relationship between genetic risk and clinical practice that will be relevant to health workers and policy makers.

The WEIRDest People in the World

The WEIRDest People in the World
Author: Joseph Henrich
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Total Pages: 420
Release: 2020-09-08
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 0374710457

A New York Times Notable Book of 2020 A Bloomberg Best Non-Fiction Book of 2020 A Behavioral Scientist Notable Book of 2020 A Human Behavior & Evolution Society Must-Read Popular Evolution Book of 2020 A bold, epic account of how the co-evolution of psychology and culture created the peculiar Western mind that has profoundly shaped the modern world. Perhaps you are WEIRD: raised in a society that is Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic. If so, you’re rather psychologically peculiar. Unlike much of the world today, and most people who have ever lived, WEIRD people are highly individualistic, self-obsessed, control-oriented, nonconformist, and analytical. They focus on themselves—their attributes, accomplishments, and aspirations—over their relationships and social roles. How did WEIRD populations become so psychologically distinct? What role did these psychological differences play in the industrial revolution and the global expansion of Europe during the last few centuries? In The WEIRDest People in the World, Joseph Henrich draws on cutting-edge research in anthropology, psychology, economics, and evolutionary biology to explore these questions and more. He illuminates the origins and evolution of family structures, marriage, and religion, and the profound impact these cultural transformations had on human psychology. Mapping these shifts through ancient history and late antiquity, Henrich reveals that the most fundamental institutions of kinship and marriage changed dramatically under pressure from the Roman Catholic Church. It was these changes that gave rise to the WEIRD psychology that would coevolve with impersonal markets, occupational specialization, and free competition—laying the foundation for the modern world. Provocative and engaging in both its broad scope and its surprising details, The WEIRDest People in the World explores how culture, institutions, and psychology shape one another, and explains what this means for both our most personal sense of who we are as individuals and also the large-scale social, political, and economic forces that drive human history. Includes black-and-white illustrations.

Genomics of Rare Diseases

Genomics of Rare Diseases
Author: Claudia Gonzaga-Jauregui
Publisher: Academic Press
Total Pages: 318
Release: 2021-06-12
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 0128204362

Genomics of Rare Diseases: Understanding Disease Genetics Using Genomic Approaches, a new volume in the Translational and Applied Genomics series, offers readers a broad understanding of current knowledge on rare diseases through a genomics lens. This clear understanding of the latest molecular and genomic technologies used to elucidate the molecular causes of more than 5,000 genetic disorders brings readers closer to unraveling many more that remain undefined and undiscovered. The challenges associated with performing rare disease research are also discussed, as well as the opportunities that the study of these disorders provides for improving our understanding of disease architecture and pathophysiology. Leading chapter authors in the field discuss approaches such as karyotyping and genomic sequencing for the better diagnosis and treatment of conditions including recessive diseases, dominant and X-linked disorders, de novo mutations, sporadic disorders and mosaicism. - Compiles applied case studies and methodologies, enabling researchers, clinicians and healthcare providers to effectively classify DNA variants associated with disease and patient phenotypes - Discusses the main challenges in studying the genetics of rare diseases through genomic approaches and possible or ongoing solutions - Explores opportunities for novel therapeutics - Features chapter contributions from leading researchers and clinicians

The Economics of Consanguineous Marriages

The Economics of Consanguineous Marriages
Author: Quý Toàn Đõ̂
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 34
Release: 2006
Genre: Antenuptial contracts
ISBN:

The institution of consanguineous marriage-a marriage contracted between close biological relatives-has been a basic building block of many societies in different parts of the world. This paper argues that the practice of consanguinity is closely related to the practice of dowry, and that both arise in response to an agency problem between the families of a bride and a groom. When marriage contracts are incomplete, dowries transfer control rights to the party with the highest incentives to invest in a marriage. When these transactions are costly however, consanguinity can be a more appropriate response since it directly reduces the agency cost. The paper's model predicts that dowry transfers are less likely to be observed in consanguineous unions. It also emphasizes the effect of credit constraints on the relative prevalence of dowry payment and consanguinity. An empirical analysis using data from Bangladesh delivers robust results consistent with the predictions of the model.