Jewish Legacy Inscribed On Genes by Karen Kaplan - Article Example

Studies have found that the Ashkenazi Jews originated from the Middle East between 2500 BC and 700 BC, spreading later to Europe (Silberstein 17). Scientists are increasingly establishing the propensities for human behaviours for aggression, addiction, as well as risk-taking, are usually inscribed in our genes. However, the concept of some groups being smarter than others is inherently disturbing. However, on a biological basis, evidence has indicated that genes play a very considerable role in IQ variations amongst the racial groups.

Of the total American population, Jews make up a paltry 3% (Silberstein 141). Scientists Gregory Cochran and Henry Harpending argue that the Ashkenazi Jews of the European descent have been found to have abundant brain power. Educational researchers and psychologists have approximated their average IQ at 106.5 to 116. That is slightly higher as compared to the overall European average of 100. However, the gap is huge enough to result to significant differences in the proportion of geniuses. When the average IQ of a group is 100, this implies that persons with an IQ above 140 are 0.

4 %, while when the average is 110, the genius rate is 2.4% (Kaplan, 12) The Jews found in America have won more than 26% of the Nobel Prizes that have been awarded to the American scientists since 1950. In addition, they also comprise 21% of the nation’s chief executives. The new genetics has shown that the majority of the Jews share genetic links. For instance, any two Ashkenazi Jews who had their great grandparents residing in Eastern and Central Europe prior to the war actually share adequate genes that would qualify them to be fourth or fifth cousins.

Jews have labelled themselves as one people since the genetic links make them be more like an extended family (Kaplan, 16). The new genetic research has also pointed out that Jewish history can be viewed in their genes. During the Greco-Roman times, the Jews migrated around the Mediterranean Basin converting the members of the local population, whose gene, as a consequence, became part of the genetic pool of the local Jews. However, the shared genetic legacy may be a significant factor in the identification of Jews such as the culture that originates from group membership and shared religious beliefs. In the U.S, religion still remains a significant force in Jewish Identity, as well as maintaining significant Jewish friendship ties and an inner commitment to being Jewish (Ostrer).

DNA studies of the Y chromosome have established most of the self-proclaimed Cohanim have a set of genetic markers that can actually be traced back approximately 3000 years to a single common ancestor. In other words, there was certainly a person in the Jewish tradition whom the future generations have retained the Jewish traditions in their DNA. Ostrer asserts that the Ashkenazi Jews originated from the Middle East by fleeing Palestine after the Muslim conquest in the 7th century, and went to settle in Southern Europe.

In the late Middle Ages, they moved from Germany into Eastern Europe. However, Elhaik argues that the roots of the Ashkenazi Jews lie in the Caucasus. Elhaik adds that they are descendants of the Khazars, a Turkic people that lived in Eurasia and later migrated to Eastern Europe in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries (Rubin).