A sample of 526 Y chromosomes representing six Middle Eastern populations (Ashkenazi, Sephardic, and Kurdish Jews from Israel; Muslim Kurds; Muslim Arabs from Israel and the Palestinian Authority Area; and Bedouin from the Negev) was analyzed for 13 binary polymorphisms and six microsatellite loci. The investigation of the genetic relationship among three Jewish communities revealed that Kurdish and Sephardic Jews were indistinguishable from one another, whereas both differed slightly, yet significantly, from Ashkenazi Jews. The differences among Ashkenazim may be a result of low-level gene flow from European populations and/or genetic drift during isolation. Admixture between Kurdish Jews and their former Muslim host population in Kurdistan appeared to be negligible. In comparison with data available from other relevant populations in the region, Jews were found to be more closely related to groups in the north of the Fertile Crescent (Kurds, Turks, and Armenians) than to their Arab neighbors. The two haplogroups Eu 9 and Eu 10 constitute a major part of the Y chromosome pool in the analyzed sample. Our data suggest that Eu 9 originated in the northern part, and Eu 10 in the southern part of the Fertile Crescent. Genetic dating yielded estimates of the expansion of both haplogroups that cover the Neolithic period in the region. Palestinian Arabs and Bedouin differed from the other Middle Eastern populations studied here, mainly in specific high-frequency Eu 10 haplotypes not found in the non-Arab groups. These chromosomes might have been introduced through migrations from the Arabian Peninsula during the last two millennia. The present study contributes to the elucidation of the complex demographic history that shaped the present-day genetic landscape in the region.

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High-resolution Y chromosome haplotype analysis was performed in 143 paternally unrelated Israeli and Palestinian Moslem Arabs (I&P Arabs) by screening for 11 binary polymorphisms and six microsatellite loci. Two frequent haplotypes were found among the 83 detected: the modal haplotype of the I&P Arabs (approximately 14%) was spread throughout the region, while its one-step microsatellite neighbor, the modal haplotype of the Galilee sample (approximately 8%), was mainly restricted to the north. Geographic substructuring within the Arabs was observed in the highlands of Samaria and Judea. Y chromosome variation in the I&P Arabs was compared to that of Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews, and to that of North Welsh individuals. At the haplogroup level, defined by the binary polymorphisms only, the Y chromosome distribution in Arabs and Jews was similar but not identical. At the haplotype level, determined by both binary and microsatellite markers, a more detailed pattern was observed. Single-step microsatellite networks of Arab and Jewish haplotypes revealed a common pool for a large portion of Y chromosomes, suggesting a relatively recent common ancestry. The two modal haplotypes in the I&P Arabs were closely related to the most frequent haplotype of Jews (the Cohen modal haplotype). However, the I&P Arab clade that includes the two Arab modal haplotypes (and makes up 32% of Arab chromosomes) is found at only very low frequency among Jews, reflecting divergence and/or admixture from other populations.

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Objective-In Israel (population 5.7 million) there are around 200 known living subjects with thalassaemia major, of whom around 80% are from the northern district. This study aims at examining the costs and benefits of a national screening programme to prevent thalassaemia in Israel. Measurements and main results-The lifetime healthcare costs of caring for a person born with thalassaemia major are $284 154. The costs of the home infusion service (33.1%) actually exceed the costs of the chelating agent itself (22.1%). The remaining 44.8% of costs are due to stay in hospital, operations, outpatient visits, laboratory tests, therapists, etc. Lost earnings and premature mortality costs account for a further $51 843 and $141 944 respectively for each case. A national screening programme would cost $900 197 and prevent around 13.4 homozygotes being born, at a cost of $67 369 for each birth prevented. The benefit-cost ratio of the programme to the health services is 4.22:1, which increases to 6.01:1 when a societal perspective is taken. However, around 13.0 homozygote births are still expected to occur, the majority owing to lack of compliance of patients at various stages in the screening process. The addition of a national health education programme for the higher risk non-Jewish population either nationally or in selected regions will incur extra costs, which may be covered by increased benefits as a result of better compliance with the screening programme. Conclusion-Israel should start to provide a nationwide thalassaemia screening programme as the monetary benefits to society (and even to the health services alone) will exceed the screening programmes costs. (J Med Screen 1998;5:120-126)