We have seen the folkscience claim that scoliosis is too prevalent to be a genetic disease. I have countered that argument already with other reasoning but here is another stab at it.
Here is a list of genetic diseases that have a similar prevalence rate as scoliosis, some many-fold more prevalent than scoliosis.
Scoliosis: ~2 to 4 % worldwide
Otosclerosis: As many as 10% of Caucasians have the condition but most do not get symptoms; about 1 in 100 cases actually lose hearing from otosclerosis
Sickle Cell Anemia: Estimated 1 per 1,000. Hispanic Americans are affected by sickle cell disease in the US
Deuteranopia: About 1% of white males
Protanopia: About 1% of white males
Red-green color blindness: About 10% of males
Of course there are many genetic diseases that are far rarer due to their virulence. Scoliosis, where only about 1 in a 1,000 require fusion and some of these people never get fusion and still live long enough to reproduce, is obviously nowhere near as virulent as the rare genetic disorders. That accounts for the observed incidence rate of 2-4% worldwide; no need for a germ theory of scoliosis.
Here is a short explanation of how prevalence, incidence, etc. have specific meanings...
http://www.bmj.com/epidem/epid.2.html
I think I have been using terms wrongly at times and would need to study this if I continue these ridiculous exchanges.
Last, science advances by trying to disprove false claims. Folkscience "advances" by trying to prove false and, by chance alone, true claims.
Here is a list of genetic diseases that have a similar prevalence rate as scoliosis, some many-fold more prevalent than scoliosis.
Scoliosis: ~2 to 4 % worldwide
Otosclerosis: As many as 10% of Caucasians have the condition but most do not get symptoms; about 1 in 100 cases actually lose hearing from otosclerosis
Sickle Cell Anemia: Estimated 1 per 1,000. Hispanic Americans are affected by sickle cell disease in the US
Deuteranopia: About 1% of white males
Protanopia: About 1% of white males
Red-green color blindness: About 10% of males
Of course there are many genetic diseases that are far rarer due to their virulence. Scoliosis, where only about 1 in a 1,000 require fusion and some of these people never get fusion and still live long enough to reproduce, is obviously nowhere near as virulent as the rare genetic disorders. That accounts for the observed incidence rate of 2-4% worldwide; no need for a germ theory of scoliosis.
Here is a short explanation of how prevalence, incidence, etc. have specific meanings...
http://www.bmj.com/epidem/epid.2.html
I think I have been using terms wrongly at times and would need to study this if I continue these ridiculous exchanges.
Last, science advances by trying to disprove false claims. Folkscience "advances" by trying to prove false and, by chance alone, true claims.
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