“(With a similar population) you might find a bit less noise in terms of genetic variation and environment,” professor of pediatrics and human development Rachel Fisher said. “The fewer differences you have, the easier it is to pinpoint certain genes.”

Fisher is one of five MSU professors working on the project. Associate professor of microbiology and molecular genetics Brian Schutte and associate professor of nursing Debra Schutte are leading the project, which is funded by two grants from MSU and the MSU Foundation. All of the group members declined to name the community involved.

Debra Schutte said the group plans to work with the community to help it address long-term health issues.

Brian Schutte said humans have about 30,000 genes, but the group is going to start by looking at six to 20 genes Debra Schutte’s earlier research identified as possibly involved in Alzheimer’s disease. The DNA for the tests can come from blood or saliva.

“We’re testing genes that we already have a reason to believe are involved,” he said.

Jill Elfenbein, an associate professor of communicative sciences and disorders, said the project began 10 years ago studying congenital hearing loss in one large extended family. She classified the type of hearing loss the subjects had. Fisher and microbiology and molecular genetics professor Karen Friderici looked for the genetic causes behind it. Fisher said about 200 genes can cause hearing loss, and one in 1,000 people is born with impaired hearing.

Friderici, who has an advisory role in the current project, said the project depends on the community’s support.

“We’ve made key discoveries because we could go back to the community and ask for more samples,” she said.

Brian Schutte said community leaders the group has talked to so far have been supportive, though some people are nervous about giving their DNA.

Qing Lu, an assistant professor of epidemiology who helps the group with data analysis, said all humans share more than 99 percent of their DNA, but the causes of genetic diseases could be different in people of different ancestries.

Debra Schutte said even if the causes are slightly different among ethnic groups, the overall knowledge gained might help everyone.

“Risk alleles may differ some between groups, but we’re hoping that it will apply to specific genes or genetic pathways,” she said.