Nagy Gén’s rental contract with Eötvös Loránd University ended this month, says György Fábri, a university spokesman. “The university is not commenting publicly on the affair because it is not our business — our researchers had no contact with the company.” In a written statement he added that the university “fully rejects” the abuse of scientific results to promote discrimination or hatred.

This article is reproduced with permission from the magazine Nature. The article was first published on June 12, 2012.

8 Comments

1. 1. vapur 02:45 PM 6/12/12

   Basically, genetic-testing companies can't be trusted with your results, especially if you're a politician.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

2. 2. Mac11380 04:30 PM 6/12/12

   What exactly is a Jewish gene?

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

3. 3. mggordon 07:39 PM 6/12/12

   A lot of fuss over nothing.
   
   Mac11380 wrote "What exactly is a Jewish gene?"
   
   Because Jews are supposed to marry only other Jews, it is possible to trace both male and female lineage. In the case of male lineage, you separate the Y chromosome which will be passed from father to son almost completely intact. Certain genes are unique to Jews. However, two kinds of Jew exist -- Ashkenazi Jew which aren't genetically of the tribe of Judah (they converted religiously but of course not genetically), and Sephardic Jew, which apparently ARE of the tribe of Judah.
   
   It is possible to lose the markers completely if a father has only daughters, the Y chromosome information is lost forever.
   
   Mitochondrial DNA comes only from the mother and can be used to trace maternal lineage, but as it has many fewer genes, it is not as *particular* in its ability to discern lineage.
   
   Cultures and religions that place considerable stock on actual genetic lineage ought to be permitted, especially in the United States where the First Amendment guarantees the right, to pursue religious studies including genetic study.
   
   On a related topic, DNA testing is valuable to prove, or disprove, certain theories by Mormons for instance. But again, a recognition of the limitations is useful; the markers can vanish in a single generation although it would be unlikely. On the other hand, to expect any genetic markers to survive 2,000 years is extraordinary and apparently only the Jews, and only some of them, have managed this feat.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

4. 4. mggordon 07:47 PM 6/12/12

   I meant to add some citations. This is after all at least slightly a scientific site.
   
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashkenazi_Jews
   
   http://www.cjp.org/page.aspx?id=127667
   
   http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2009/01/how-ashkenazi-jewish-are-you/
   
   

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

5. 5. Mythusmage 07:53 PM 6/12/12

   I'm partly Neanderthal, I can't even worry about species purity.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

6. 6. Mac11380 in reply to mggordon 09:42 AM 6/13/12

   SO since Sammy Davis Jr was Jewish, he has these genes?

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

7. 7. mggordon 12:40 AM 6/15/12

   Mac says "SO since Sammy Davis Jr was Jewish, he has these genes?"
   
   One of the nice things about the United States and the theory of relativity is that you are free to invent your own logic and definitions. Thus, it is exactly as you say if you wish it to be so.
   
   You may find that others interpret these things more intelligently.
   
   Consider "1 is a rational number" -- shall you say, "So, any rational number is 1?"
   
   That would be silly. A subset is a member of its set, but a set is not a member of its own subset. Genetically traceable Jews are a subset of the set called "Jew". Therefore, a person with genetic markers can properly be considered a member of both the subset and the set; but a member of the set MIGHT, or might not, be a member of the subset.
   
   

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

8. 8. bumluck 02:22 PM 6/25/12

   mggordon: I don't think Mac11380 was serious.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this