Monday 14 June 2010

Genetic study sheds light on Jewish diaspora

Scientists have shed light on Jewish history with an in-depth genetic study.

The researchers analysed genetic samples from 14 Jewish communities across the world and compared them with those from 69 non-Jewish populations.
Their study, published in Nature, revealed that most Jewish populations were "genetically closer" to each other than to their non-Jewish neighbours.
It also revealed genetic ties between globally dispersed Jews and non-Jewish populations in the Middle East. This fits with the idea that most contemporary Jews descended from ancient Hebrew and Israelite residents in the Middle Eastern region known as the Levant. It provides a trace of the Jewish diaspora.

Doron Behar from Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa, Israel, led an international team of scientists in the study. He described it as a form of "genetic archaeology".
"It seems that most Jewish populations and therefore most Jewish individuals are closer to each other [at the genetic level], and closer to the Middle Eastern populations, than to their traditional host population in the diaspora," he explained.

In Genesis we read that God created all life on earth. He uses the phrase “seed after his kind” to describe how trees, fruit etc would replicate. The same applies not only to plants but also to animals and humans. In relation to this phrase “after his kind” Strong's says “Groups of living organisms belong in the same created "kind" if they have descended from the same ancestral gene pool.”

In God’s sight there are 2 gene pools for humans. Jewish and Gentile. The study above shows this is the case. The wonderful news is though that though we technically belong to the Gentile gene pool we can be grafted in to the Jewish one and share in their wonderful promises made to the original father of the Jewish nation – Abraham.

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ…..And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:27,29)

Andy walton in his Weekly World Watch >
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Weekly World Watch 6th - 12th June 2010‏

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