Final answer:
The genetic disease of Amish people is called Ellis-van Creveld syndrome, which is a type of dwarfism characterized by extra fingers and short limbs. The high prevalence of this syndrome in the Amish population is due to the founder effect and the practice of endogamy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The genetic disease of Amish people is called Ellis-van Creveld syndrome. This rare condition is a type of dwarfism characterized by extra fingers and short limbs. The high prevalence of this syndrome in the Amish population is due to a phenomenon called the founder effect.
The founder effect occurs when a small group of individuals becomes isolated and forms a new population. If one of the founders carries a recessive allele for a particular condition, such as Ellis-van Creveld syndrome, that condition can become more common in the population over time. With a limited number of founders in the Amish population, the recessive allele for Ellis-van Creveld syndrome was passed on and spread throughout the community.
The Amish population's unique genetic history and the practice of endogamy, or marrying within the community, also contribute to the increased prevalence of this genetic disease. Since many Amish individuals are descended from the original founders, there is a higher chance of inheriting the recessive allele if both parents carry it.