Comments on: Not So Close Neighbors: The Genetically Isolated People of Finland http://spittoon.23andme.com/2008/10/29/not-so-close-neighbors-the-genetically-isolated-people-of-finland/ A receptacle for genetic knowledge. Sat, 13 Feb 2010 03:51:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: cschick http://spittoon.23andme.com/2008/10/29/not-so-close-neighbors-the-genetically-isolated-people-of-finland/comment-page-1/#comment-903 cschick Thu, 30 Oct 2008 08:00:57 +0000 http://spittoon.23andme.com/?p=1786#comment-903 What is interesting is that there is a large number of allergies (lactose intolerance, psoriasis, for example) in Finns. Also, there is a high prevalence of heart defects, such that it's no big deal when they find one in a newborn. One thing that I am not sure of, is that there is also a high level of twinning - both fraternal and identical. I am not sure if that is environmental or genetic or my imagination. Lastly, while the air is very dry (contributing also to skin issues) the ground is moist (bedrock almost at surface) such that fungi are pretty prevalent here (at least compared to the other countries I've lived in). I wonder if many of the allergies might be due to auto-immunity due to the fungi. Alas, most Finns believe their allergies and cogenital issues are simply due to the 'founder effect'. Everyone is a cousin here. What is interesting is that there is a large number of allergies (lactose intolerance, psoriasis, for example) in Finns. Also, there is a high prevalence of heart defects, such that it’s no big deal when they find one in a newborn.

One thing that I am not sure of, is that there is also a high level of twinning – both fraternal and identical. I am not sure if that is environmental or genetic or my imagination.

Lastly, while the air is very dry (contributing also to skin issues) the ground is moist (bedrock almost at surface) such that fungi are pretty prevalent here (at least compared to the other countries I’ve lived in). I wonder if many of the allergies might be due to auto-immunity due to the fungi.

Alas, most Finns believe their allergies and cogenital issues are simply due to the ‘founder effect’. Everyone is a cousin here.

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