Ashkenazi Jews and breast cancer: the consequences of linking ethnic identity to genetic disease

Sherry I Brandt-Rauf; Victoria H Raveis; Nathan F Drummond; Jill A Conte; Sheila M Rothman

doi:10.2105/AJPH.2005.083014

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Ashkenazi Jews and breast cancer: the consequences of linking ethnic identity to genetic disease

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Ashkenazi Jews and breast cancer: the consequences of linking ethnic identity to genetic disease

Sherry I Brandt-Rauf, Victoria H Raveis, Nathan F Drummond, Jill A Conte and Sheila M Rothman

American journal of public health (1971), v 96(11), pp 1979-1988

01 Nov 2006

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2005.083014

PMID: 17018815

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1751808View

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Abstract

Breast Neoplasms - ethnology

Breast Neoplasms - genetics

Female

Founder Effect

Genes, BRCA1

Genes, BRCA2

Genetic Predisposition to Disease - ethnology

Genetic Research

Genetic Testing

Genetics, Population

Humans

Interviews as Topic

Jews - classification

Jews - genetics

Judaism

Mutation

Research Personnel

Social Identification

Tay-Sachs Disease - ethnology

Tay-Sachs Disease - genetics

We explored the advantages and disadvantages of using ethnic categories in genetic research. With the discovery that certain breast cancer gene mutations appeared to be more prevalent in Ashkenazi Jews, breast cancer researchers moved their focus from high-risk families to ethnicity. The concept of Ashkenazi Jews as genetically unique, a legacy of Tay-Sachs disease research and a particular reading of history, shaped this new approach even as methodological imprecision and new genetic and historical research challenged it. Our findings cast doubt on the accuracy and desirability of linking ethnic groups to genetic disease. Such linkages exaggerate genetic differences among ethnic groups and lead to unequal access to testing and therapy.

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21 citations in Web of Science

23 citations in Scopus

Details

Title: Ashkenazi Jews and breast cancer: the consequences of linking ethnic identity to genetic disease
Creators: Sherry I Brandt-Rauf - Columbia University
Victoria H Raveis - Columbia University
Nathan F Drummond - Columbia University
Jill A Conte - Columbia University
Sheila M Rothman - Columbia University
Publication Details: American journal of public health (1971), v 96(11), pp 1979-1988
Grant note: R01 HG002517 / NHGRI NIH HHS R01 HG002517-01AG / NIA NIH HHS
Resource Type: Journal article
Language: English
Academic Unit: Environmental and Occupational Health
Web of Science ID: WOS:000241540500021
Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-33750471198
Other Identifier: 991021895691604721

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Web of Science research areas: Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Ashkenazi Jews and breast cancer: the consequences of linking ethnic identity to genetic disease

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Abstract

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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