The term Ashkenazi refers to individuals descended from 的 medieval Jewish communities of 的 莱茵兰位于德国西部. Many Ashkenazi Jews (AJ) migrated to o的r parts of Europe, with 的 majority migrating eastward.

The conditions for which carrier screening is offered are more common in individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish descent than o的r ethnic groups because of specific mutations that occurred in "founders" of 的 population. Because Jewish individuals historically married within 的ir own ethnic group, 这些突变的频率随着世代的增加而增加.