The Amish people began as a colony of just 200 settlers in America. The fact that Ellis-van Creveld syndrome, a genetic disorder also known as six-fingered dwarfism, is more common among the Amish than other human populations is probably a result of founder effect.

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Founder effect occurs when a small group of individuals establish a new population, resulting in a limited gene pool and increased likelihood of certain genetic traits and disorders being more common in that population. This is likely the reason why Ellis-van Creveld syndrome is more common among the Amish, who originally settled as a small colony in America.

The Amish People Began as a Colony of Just 200