The Celiac Paradox

Research into the genetic evolution of celiac disease

A year-long independent research project for HSC Science Extension.

Read the report, and check out the scripts I used to process genetic data!

TLDR: When I found out that predisposition to celiac disease was genetic, I thought I could find some cool evidence of natural selection - where ethnic groups from societies that started growing gluten-containing cereals earliest in history would have lower frequency of the target genes. Turns out I was wrong! Instead, I found evidence of some other genetic factors at play.