Race/Genetics

[Piel]

Threads like this are why I LOVE this board. You just can't get this kind of stuff at MKF and Sashafans.

 

[Tonichelle]

you board dragger lol

I think you might find threads like this, but I don't think you find as many highly knowledgable people on the range of subject we have... if that makes sense?

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Ptichka - From what I learned in school, Hebrews originated in what is now Iraq and were a nomadic tribe united in a new founded religion.

The bible, in my studies, was emphasized not as a history book, but stories to teach children and give them a way of life - not unlike other theories of religion.

By the time there was a differentiate between Sephardic and Ashenazi it was was after the disapora.

I stand to be corrected on all this. I am not a religion major and my limitations on the subject is from a general course in the religions of the world. I come from a family of non-believers.

Joe

 

[Grgranny]

I'm so afraid that if I put the nationality in this sentence it might hurt someone's feelings. When I was in school, everyone was saying that ___________
would take over the country. Now, they are saying ________________ are taking it over. Who would ever have thought it.

 

[Ptichka]

By the time there was a differentiate between Sephardic and Ashenazi it was was after the disapora.

I stand to be corrected on all this. I am not a religion major and my limitations on the subject is from a general course in the religions of the world. I come from a family of non-believers.

Joe, to a lot of Jews (me included) Jewishness is far more about culture than it is about religion. In my family we are split about evenly between atheists and agnostics, yet being Jewish is extremely important to all of us.

You are right that of course Sephardim and Ashkenazim distinction is relatively new. Sephardim simply meant Spanish Jews; after Isabella threw them out many found a welcoming home in Turkey, so that's why today we think of Sephardim as Asian Jew. Ashkenazim traditionally meant German Jews, but since they spread out all over Europe by today we think of Ashkenazi as European Jews. Anyway, I was just trying to demonstrate that a few centuries is enough to create distinctive genetic differences. Mind you, there has been very little mixing of Jews with their host countries, so it is interesting to see how peoples' genetics change over time.

Now Lemba are a whole different story. They live in South Africa, but practice Judaism. Their mythology says they originated from Israel. Recent genetic testing proved that they are indeed related to Jews, or to be even more specific to the Kohens, who are the traditional priestly cast.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Ptichka - From what I've learned and noted is that cultural ties abound in all peoples. In the case of Celts, only the British nationalities really differentiate them, but it does.

The Celts, from what I observed are capable of assimilating quite easily into other cultures. I've even met Russians who were originally Celts.

Joe

 

[Mathman]

... to be even more specific to the Kohens, who are the traditional priestly cast.

Are there really genetic markers for this particular subgroup? Was membership in the priestly caste hereditary, and did they tend to marry among themselves? Do modern people whose names are Cohen, Cohn, Kahn, Cohan, etc., tend to be identifiable genetically?

That's fascinating.

 

[Ptichka]

Yes, there is a distinctive Y-Chromosome marker, often refered to as Aaron Chromosome because Kohen are supposedly all descended from Aaron (brother of Moses). Most researchers agree that this shared chromosome goes back about 3000 years. It's interesting that while normally Jewishness is passed matrilineally, being a Kohen is passed patrilineally. Some researchers have also found a similarity among Levites (second level of priesthood), with shared chromosomes going back 2000 years, but it's not nearly as clear cut as with Aaron Chromosome.

Edited to add: natrurally, as with any patrilineal issues, not all Kohens have this chromosome, but many do.

 

[Grgranny]

When my oldest daughter had her appendix out, the Dr. asked me after she healed up if there were any blacks in our ancestory. I said not that I know of but there is Indian. He said that would be it as they heal differently.

 

[Piel]

People with darker skin have a higher risk of keloid (overrown scar)formation.