Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83 based; site hou2b.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!whuxlm!whuxl!houxm!hou2b!halle From: halle@hou2b.UUCP (J.HALLE) Newsgroups: net.followup Subject: Re: Viral infections: Really CBW Message-ID: <593@hou2b.UUCP> Date: Wed, 14-Aug-85 14:09:38 EDT Article-I.D.: hou2b.593 Posted: Wed Aug 14 14:09:38 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 20-Aug-85 07:45:06 EDT References: <800@abnji.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ Lines: 10 The author of the original article shows his paranoia, ignorance, and lack of credibility when he talks about "racial specific diseases." In particular, he mentioned sickle cell anemia and Tay-Sachs. Neither of these is racial specific, although they are concentrated among certain ethnic groups. Sickle cell anemia is occasionally found in non-blacks. Tay-Sachs is sometimes found among non-Jews, particularly in eastern Europeans. (I will not address the blatently anti-Semitic implied remark about Jews being a race rather than an ethnic group or religion. I will assume it was inadvertent.) In particular, the chance of a non-Jew of eastern European heritage being a Tay-Sachs carrier is about one in five hundred.