Gypsies Help WAIMR Unlock Disease Mysteries

Researching 'founder populations' - those with limited genetic diversity - can provide valuable information in the fight against deadly genetic diseases. Scientists studying these populations can look more easily at genes and identify the causes of diseases. One of the more mysterious founder populations is the Roma, otherwise known as Gypsies.

A genetic study led by WAIMR Professor Luba Kalaydjieva found that common origins of the Roma could be traced back to India, about 1,000 years ago. In studying thirteen genetic mutations common to the group and comparing them to samples from India, the scientists discovered similarities in genetic markers.

The research has already helped the Roma communities minimise the impact of some genetic diseases (including diseases of the peripheral nervous system, childhood blindness, and inborn errors of metabolism) by allowing them to conduct screening, leading to better health for both Gypsies and wider communities. It has also opened up a world of opportunities to find the predisposition to other disorders like epilepsy and heart disease.