Hot on Facebook

Man Tries to Order Priciest Starbucks Drink Ever Total cost: $23.60 »

Deadly Genes Make Euro Jews Smarter: Scientist

Scientists spark furor with controversial DNA theory

By Wesley Oliver, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 18, 2009 4:20 PM CDT

(Newser) – The genes that make European Jews susceptible to deadly diseases may also increase their intelligence, two scientists say. Arizona physicist Gregory Cochran stumbled on the theory when pondering why natural selection hasn't removed bad DNA from the gene pool that makes Ashkenazi Jews get so many diseases. His answer: The DNA that endured made them smarter than other racial groups, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Cochran notes that although Ashkenazi Jews constitute 3% of the US population, they’ve received more than 25% of American Nobel Prizes and make up 22% of Ivy Leaguers. “This is not a legitimate area of research,” said one anthropologist, while other critics fault Cochran for not performing experiments. He retorts, “OK, then I guess Einstein's papers didn't mean anything either.”

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

Ashkenazi Jews have a higher rate of some deadly genetic diseases and of high IQs. (Shutter Stock)

A young Jewish couple walk past the Synagogue de la Paix synagogue April 4, 2009 in Strasbourg, France. (Getty Images)

The newly built synagogue is reflected in the text covered glass walls of the Jewish Museum on the opening day of the new Jewish Museum on March 21, 2007 in Munich, Germany. (Getty Images)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Do they have genetic theories about why Latinos and African Americans perform worse academically? - Neil Risch, director of the Institute for Human Genetics at UC San Francisco

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

AP Photo

35 Brutally Honest Reasons Men Say No to Sex (The Stir)

Man in Mugshot Explains Why He Has Half a Head (HuffPost)

Another Sign Rihanna and Chris Brown Might Get Back Together? (Celebuzz)

These Exes Were Spotted Making Out … and That's a Bad Thing (Bleacher Report)

Did We All Kill Whitney Houston---Or Did We Prolong Her Life? (Slate)

Partner Links

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

Showing 3 of 12 comments

spraynard

Apr 6, 2010 9:24 AM CDT

Funfact: the same gene that makes black people susceptible to sickle cell also makes them resistant to malaria.

That could probably be worded better.

professortech

Apr 20, 2009 7:53 AM CDT

Another aspect that seldom is brought into this nature/nurture discussion is the prevalence of various "high intellect" sectors of societies to also have habits/traditions within their cultural groups that help to develop intellectual capacities. For example: To be a practicing Jew one needs to learn an entirely different alphabet than a standard alphabet of a host country. Anyone who learns two languages, and is literate in two non-similar alphabets (one lacking vowels in the Torah) and who grows up in a culture that values education will most likely have more well developed intellectual skills than the mono-lingual, intellectual slacker. Another example is that everyone seems extremely surprised that Chinese/Japanese do extremely well at mathematics and science in international standardized tests – Why? On average a Chinese person must learn to read and write over 5000 symbols to be considered even "basically literate" . Add to that the proclivity of the spoken Chinese language to have a words that are spelled the same way have multiple and contrary meanings based on minor inflections in speech and you have a training program that aids individuals in symbolic interpretation and memory which are essential skills in both Math and Science. Just thought I would throw in a curve ball that is not related to genetics at all.

joeybaker

Apr 19, 2009 12:57 PM CDT

Punchline: Nazis got it right! Jews ARE smarter! :)

What's Popular Now on Facebook

Rick Santorum: Birth Control Is 'Not OK'

E-Cigarette Explodes in Man's Mouth

Los Angeles Times (Source Grid »)

Health • World

intelligence • DNA • genes • scientists • Ashkenazi Jews

More Newser Stories

Sex With Neanderthals Boosted Our Immunity

Scientists make 'stunning' discovery in genome comparison

(NEWSER) - Three years ago, scientists thought humans had never had sex with Neanderthals. Last year, they changed their tune—and now it looks like DNA passed down from Neanderthals has had a “profound impact” on our immune systems. Scientists compared a section of the modern human genome to the same area in the genomes of Neanderthals and another ancient hominid, the Denisovans, the Los Angeles Times reports. More»

Chinese Hunters Capture 'Yeti'

The bizarre, hairless creature is being studied by scientists

(NEWSER) - A bizarre hairless creature dubbed a "yeti" and captured by hunters in China's Sichuan province is being studied by scientists. "It looks a bit like a bear but it doesn't have any fur and it has a tail like a kangaroo," said one of the hunters. "There are legends of a bear that used to be a man and some people think that's what we caught." The animal, which "calls like a cat," will be sent to Beijing for DNA tests, reports the Telegraph . Click here to see a photo. More»

Mutant Genes Linked to Long Life

DNA-protecting enzyme may be key to living to 100

(NEWSER) - Scientists have spotted a link among people who live to age 100: high levels of telomerase, an enzyme that protects DNA and could possibly be simulated in life-lengthening drugs. The enzyme repairs telomeres, end sections of DNA that have been likened to plastic tips that prevent shoelaces from unraveling. In a study, centenarians and their children had higher levels of telomerase and longer telomeres than the general population, the BBC reports. More»

RNA: Secret Weapon Against Disease

Once seen as weak partner of DNA, gene helps control cells' activity

(NEWSER) - RNA has long been seen as DNA’s little brother, a messenger between the human genome and cells’ protein factories. But studies point to a bigger role—ribonucleic acid can “turn off” certain genes, for example, fighting a range of health problems, the New York Times reports. “This is potentially the biggest change in our understanding of biology since the discovery of the double helix,” says a biologist. More»

Coke Addicts Can Blame It on DNA

Newly uncovered gene boosts chance of getting hooked

(NEWSER) - A newly discovered gene can improve your chances of getting hooked on cocaine, scientists said today. A study of 670 cocaine addicts and 700 non-users found that addicts were 25% more likely to have the gene variant. The discovery could lead to DNA screenings for those likely to try the drug, scientists say. "You can certainly use this as a vulnerability marker for cocaine addiction," an author of the study told the Guardian. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Deadly Genes Make Euro Jews Smarter: Scientist