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Genetic Markers for Crohn's Disease

Many diseases often have a genetic component that predisposes some people to developing them. The medical community has always known Crohn's disease seems to carry a genetic component, but research carried out in 2008 expanded on this knowledge. Certain genetic factors play a large role in the development of this disease.

  1. Family History

    • Thirty percent of people who develop Crohn's disease have a family history of the condition, according to John's Hopkins Medicine.

    Ashkenazi Jewish

    • Ashkenazi Jews are particularly vulnerable and have twice the risk of developing this condition as other people. The study, published in a 2008 volume of "Genes and Immunity," examined 933 families with the condition and 244 were Ashkenazi.

    Ashkenazi Chromosomes

    • DNA variations on chromosomes 1 and 3 showed evidence of genes that caused Crohn's disease in Ashkenazi families specifically.

    Other Chromosomes

    • Genetic abnormalities on chromosomes 13, 2 and 19 appear to influence development of Crohn's disease in Jewish and non-Jewish families.

    Significance

    • While this study uncovered lots of new information, researchers still have not isolated the exact genes that cause this disease, and further research is needed. The study, however, helped pinpoint an area to study further. For the first time, scientists could identify gene regions specific to Ashkenazi Jews.

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