A genetic mutation believed to prevent alcoholism is especially widespread among Jews, according to the Israeli daily Ha’aretz. Scientists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Indiana University discovered the genetic mutation in 35 percent of males living in Jerusalem, but in only 7 percent of a sampling of the world’s population. People with the mutation break down alcohol more quickly and, as a result, they experience physiological effects such as shaking and an accelerated pulse that might deter them from drinking.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
