Amish leading way in modern science

Researching human genetics at Maryland university

     Horse-drawn buggies, homemade clothing and a strict religion are all characteristics of the Amish community. Now however, members of their community are traveling to University of Maryland to work for the Maryland School of Medicine’s Amish Research Clinic.

     Traveling from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Susie Fisher is one of these Amish. According to WBAL, Fisher wakes up at 4:30 a.m. to do personal chores before traveling down to the university to work.

      “It’s great. I love it. I always wanted to be a nurse, and this is as close as I will ever get to being a nurse,” she stated.     Most Amish do not attend school after eighth grade, so attending the Research Clinic is the closest Fisher may get to being a nurse.

      Dr. Alan Shuldiner is the creator of the project. Beginning in 1995, he has worked with the Amish to identify genetic markers that can help formulate drugs and treatments for different diseases.

        “Researching genetics is researching what the human body wants you to do. Understanding the human body completely you can cure any disease,” stated Jimmy Foster, a senior at North Harford, is studying genetic engineering in his independent study course.

       Shuldiner explains that there is a specific reason why he chose to work with the Amish.

       “The gene pool is a small number of founders that came over in the early 1700s. Those genes have proliferated over 17 generations, but they haven’t changed — no new genes have come in. So, it’s much easier to do genomic studies,” stated Shuldiner.

        Fisher works in the clinic to prepare kits for blood draws, and when not doing so, works with Mary Morrissey to call other Amish families in search of new research participants.

      This research has led to discoveries in both heart disease and diabetes. For heart disease, after studying the Amish’s blood work, the clinic was able to determine that 25% of the total population carries a genetic variant. Those patients with the variant do not respond to Plavix, which is used to help heart disease patients.

      The hope of Shuldiner’s is that eventually newborns will have their genome sequenced when they are born, which would inform doctors of the diseases the child is susceptible too. This possibility may not be far off, considering the cost for genome sequences is now under $1000.

     The Amish who participate say they are a part of the program to help humanity, mixing science with their fundamental beliefs.