Genetic disorder, a term frequently used in biology class, is rarely used in reality. It is estimated that about 6% of births, or 7.9 million births of the global population possess some kind of genetic disorder. One such disorder is hemochromatosis, which is when the body absorbs an excessive amount of iron. 

Ultimately, this leads to hepatic, pancreatic and cardiac damage, creating an onslaught of diseases like liver cirrhosis and cancer. The treatment for hemochromatosis is very progressive, with the most common treatment being therapeutic phlebotomy. 

During the treatment, blood in the body is removed in a regulated manner, reducing iron levels. Although it does not reverse damage that has already occurred, it acts as a form of preventive care. Hemochromatosis is most prevalent in those of Eastern European ancestry, which includes Irish, Scottish, Welsh and British descendants. 

Scientifically, there is a genetic mutation that Eastern Europeans are prone to — a variant is known as C282Y. 

When a person is homozygous, they receive two of the same copies pair of this gene, putting them at an increased risk of developing hemochromatosis. Due to the common nature of this disorder in the Celtic region, the term “Celtic curse” was coined. 

The Celtic part of the name came from the fact that Irish, Welsh and Scottish DNA has Viking ancestry. The Viking culture that the modern world is familiar with was referred to as Celtic due to the alliance and intermarriage between Gaelic Irish and Scots with the Scandinavian Vikings in the ninth century. This “curse” itself is a reference to genetic mapping. 

Genetic mapping is a comprehensive methodology in which common hot spots for the disease are pointed out. One of the prominent hot spots is in Northern Ireland. What this says is that the gene is more prevalent in the northern areas of Ireland rather than Ireland as a whole. 

This allows for genetic screening, which is a test that tells someone if they are affected by a certain gene, which in this case is the C282Y variant. 

This is where the aforementioned progression happens. If there is someone affected by the mutation, preventive care can be administered in the form of therapeutic phlebotomy before any symptoms arise and any damage is done.