Project Overview & Goals
Overview:
The Modern Middle East Genomics Project (MMEGP) is the largest genome-wide study of the Middle East to date. The study will collect saliva samples from eligible individuals (free of charge) which will then undergo 30x Whole-Genome Sequencing (WGS) . This type of sequencing is 3,000x more in-depth then services such as 23andme and Ancestry. Participants will periodically receive project updates and contribute to the genomic history of the Middle East!
Goals:
The goals of this project are to:
1. Gain a better historical understanding of the underrepresented inhabitants of the Middle East within the past 500 years
2. Trace Historical and Recent Migrations in the region.
3. Examine ethno-religious population structures and isolated communities in the Modern Middle East
Project Eligibility
Basic Eligibility:
1. I am 18 years of age or older
2. I am able to understand and provide informed consent
3. I am willing to provide a saliva sample
Ancestral Eligibility:
My parents and all four grandparents (see FAQ in the Interest Form for more details) originate from the same country, which must be one of the following:
1. Lebanon
2. Syria
3. Iraq
View Consent Form
*This project has been approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Emory University
*Participants may opt out at any point in the study
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
1. Can I participate if my parents are from different countries (e.g. Mom is from Iraq and Dad is from Syria)
No, you are unfortunately not eligible for the study as we can not discern which genetic profile belongs to which region.
2. Can I participate if my parents/grandparents are from different towns/cities in the same country (e.g. Mom is from Beirut, Lebanon and Dad is Baalbeck, Lebanon)
- Yes, you are eligible for the study only if you can specify which regions exactly.
3. Can I participate if I have 1 grandparent from a different country (e.g. all my grandparents are from Lebanon except for my mom's mom who is from Syria)
- No, you are unfortunately not eligible for the study as we can not discern which genetic profile belongs to which region.
4. I believe I might have a great (or great-great+) grandparent that was from Egypt, am I eligible for the study?
- Yes, you are eligible for the study only if you can specify which region/country.
5. Will my genomic data be private and secure?
- Yes, all genomic data collected in this study will be encrypted on physical drives (not the cloud) and not shared (unless consent/approval is given for future studies).
6. By participating, will I receive ancestry reports and breakdowns?
- While participants will receive project updates related to their ancestry, the data will not be presented on an individual level, rather a collective overview of shared genetic histories among all the participants.
