Population structure and inherited genetic disorders in the Bedouin of the Negev

In their paper on genetic disease among the Bedouin Arab population in the Negev region of southern Israel, Singer et al. attribute the high infant mortality rate of 11 per 1000 and the inheritance of numerous genetic diseases to consanguineous marriage. While not disagreeing with this conclusion in general terms, before calling for a raised awareness of the adverse sequelae of consanguinity and specific interventions to limit consanguinity via...