Though nearly all present scientific understanding of genetic diseases has been accomplished in the past century; the diseases themselves have long impacted the course of history. From ancient Egypt, to the family of Queen Victoria of Britain, genetic diseases have altered lines of succession and perhaps even caused the downfall of ruling dynasties. Genetic disease also affected the course of European colonialism in Africa. In the 20th century, the impact of genetic diseases and congenital defects on populations at large was the subject of intense social debate. Some nations passed laws governing reproduction and criminalized people affected by genetic disorders.

Anthropologists and paleopathologists (people who study the presence of trauma and disease in human remains) are studying in depth the mummified remains of pharaohs from the 18th Dynasty...