Jewish DNA - Genetic Research and The Origins of the Jewish People

Excerpt of a lecture by Dr. Jon Entine discussing why the Jewish people are interesting research subjects for genetic and DNA research. And how it helps us track the origins of and the differences between different Jewish Groups. Also in this lecture, Dr. Entine explores the myth about Khazar Jews (Khazars AKA the 13th tribe) and the fact that at least according to Rabbinical Judaism, most Jews today are not Jews according to the halakha (stuff for thought).

More info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genealogical_DNA_test
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/extras/molgen/auto_dna.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khazars

The full lecture:
http://www.rootstelevision.com/players/player_jewishroots3.php?bctid=12522600...


ABOUT THE LECTURE:
The author of the highly acclaimed and controversial book, Taboo: Why Black Athletes Dominate Sports and Why We're Afraid to Talk About It, investigative journalist Jon Entine, in his new book Abraham's Children, attempts to answer new taboo topics, such as: Did Moses really live? What was the real fate of the Lost Tribes? How did the advent of Christianity change the DNA of humanity, and why Jews — the tiniest fraction of the world's population — score highest on intelligence tests and hold so many Nobel Prizes, why there are disproportionately so many more Jewish lawyers and doctors, and what the answers to such questions tell us about human nature and nurture. Entine vividly brings to life the profound human implications of the Age of Genetics, retelling the story of the Bible through the prism of DNA, while illuminating one of today's most controversial topics: the connection between genetics and identity. The focus of genome research has shifted from our shared humanity to human differences, and we are now confronted with questions once considered taboo.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• DNA
• Genes
• race
• human
• genome
• research
• Jewish
• Jews
• Origins
• Y-chromosomal
• Aaron
• MtDNA
• Autosomal
• Genealogical
• Diaspora
• Khazar
• Khazars
• Judaism
• Abraham's
• Children
• Ashkenazi
• Sephardic
• Sephardi
• genetic
• Eve
• Adam
• migration
• evolution
• Israel
• Israelites
• Rabbis
• Dr.
• Jon
• Entine
• joniversity

[alsdyall]

There is a genetic connection between most Jewish communities worldwide and the eastern/southern mediterranean region. But this is a very large area. It includes what is today Israel, but it also includes Lebanon, Syria, southernTurkey, Greece, North Africa and even southern Italy. A lot of the ancestors of modern day Ashkenazim could have been converted Roman citizens from this region but not from the biblical Judean area. See Schlomo Sands - the Invention of the Jewish people.

[Joniversity]

@alsdyall Shlomo Sand's book is actually quite good, and he's a serious historian, but his theory isn't at good standing. The genetic IBD study of 2010 destroyed most of it, and other points were refuted by fellow historians and linguist studies. But to be honest we're still waiting for advances in genealogical DNA biogeographical analysis to get a more definitive answer - till then i wouldn't be so fast to jump Sand's wagon.

[OriginalHebrew]

@Lagolop Haplogroup J is so widespread, but mainly among people with a 'fair' or 'fairer' complexions. These physical characteristics, new archaeological finds and current DNA studies do not support Ashkenazim as being of Hebrew Israelite nationality. The reason why Sephardic jews are considered to have any authentic Hebrew ancestry is due to the presence of the original Hebrews that were located in Spain, they were Hebrew ‘Moors’. Black Spain ruled for 800 years!