tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155234744851018796.post9008822553451806757..comments2023-10-07T03:52:31.772-05:00Comments on <b>Historical Melungeons</b>: Behçet Disease is Not a Melungeon DiseaseHistorical Melungeonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17731609082692626343noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155234744851018796.post-26074089146776372502011-01-16T21:31:35.911-06:002011-01-16T21:31:35.911-06:00More understanding is needed on your part...not ab...More understanding is needed on your part...not about Behcets but genetics. Behcets does have an absolute component; hence the allele testing. if the alleles were not important then you could say there was no genetic influence . but, since alleles on GENES must be "turned on" so to speak...then Behcets is a genetic disorder that must be "triggered" by environmental factors....these factors are things like very particular viruses or bacteria. Examples of these are Strep, Mono, Chicken pox, Mumps....all the types of infections that the immune system remembers for LIFE . These may at anytime trigger the ALLELE on the GENE causing the immune system to malfunction. HLA- B51 is the most prominent gene associated with Behcets but not everyone has the B51 gene. however, those who develop Behcets have B51 gene...that's why it's part of the work up.<br /><br />Dr John S Purifoy IIIAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com