What is in the DNA of cousins that will cause their kids to have birth defects? Is this just an old wive's tale? I'm sorry I just don't understand how it works. I thought human beings all pretty much have the same DNA so what difference does it make whether you marry your cousin or someone who isn't related to you? Isn't DNA or genetic material all the same?
2007-12-21 16:06:48 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
Depends on how far you are removed in relations and if your from south of the Mason Dixon.
2007-12-21 16:09:37 · answer #1 · answered by yager19 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your baby is more likely to have some type of birth defect than if u were pregnant with a-non family members baby!!! my aunt married her 1st cousin (eww) and they had two kids! my cousins are now in their late twenties and both are deaf!!! The were not twins but separate pregnancy's born years apart, but i know since my aunt and her husband are related, my cousins are deaf because of it!! very smart college graduates, but deaf!! Ones an engineer and the other is becoming a doctor!! Maybe it wont be deafness with your but close bloodlines are asking for problems with your child!! And for goodness sake its incest and disgusting!!! Find a non-relative sweety!! please, or at least a far distant one!! And to answer ur question fully every ones DNA is different but relatives share specific DNA that can cause defects in a child cause of how closely they match!! Its not a wives tale as much as u would hope it would be!!
2007-12-22 00:41:45 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Th explanation I learned is that everyone carries, recessively, some defective genes, and that marriage between close relatives increases the chances of two of those genes pairing and causing the defect in the offspring. These days, if you are considering marrying a cousin (and it's legal where you live), you may both be able to be tested to determine whether there would be any risk to your children. If you are already pregnant by your cousin, you can undoubtedly have prenatal testing to determine whether your fetus has any defects, but then you may have an agonizing decision to make.
For what it's worth, I'v e known a few very UNdefective people who were their own cousins in multiple ways!
2007-12-22 00:20:43 · answer #3 · answered by aida 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is a risk that the baby will have birth defects but any baby has the risk of having birth defects. It's not guarenteed that a baby will have birth defects based on the family tree not forking. My friend had a twin brother who she was seperated from at birth (he was adopted out). She didn't know that the man she fell in love with and had a son with was her brother till after he passed away. Her son is extremely intellegent. He is able to do advanced math etc... and he is only 6 years old. It really all depends on the baby not the relation between parents.
2007-12-22 00:13:36 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
What happens is, since both your genes are similar since you're from the same family, any of those genes will be ENHANCED, so sometimes if people have bad harmful recessive genes, having a baby with a relative means those genes are more present and thats why you can get disorders.
In the royal family back in the day, they all inbred to keep the blood line pure, and thats why most of the children were hemophilliacs (once you get cut, you can't stop bleeding out because your blood doesn't clot) because to get hemophilia its a recessive gene that was present...
2007-12-22 00:12:26 · answer #5 · answered by papercut 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Many genetic mutations are caused by recessive genes. These usually don't match up with genes like themselves, so such mutations are rare. When close relatives have a baby, genetic similarities between the parents make these recessive jeans more likely to match up with like genes (one from each parent), resulting in a higher incidence of birth defects.
2007-12-22 00:16:40 · answer #6 · answered by legendofslipperyhollow 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends how close their bloodlines are. Most, if not all states by now, prohibit marriages between first cousins. Maybe that is a clue that the bloodlines are too close.
I have a relative that is married to their second cousin and their daughter has a few disabilities. She is super smart, but physically she isn't strong.
2007-12-22 00:12:04 · answer #7 · answered by pipi08_2000 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you have a child with your cousin, there is a high risk of birth defects. The risk increases dramatically as they are closer to you (brother, sister or parent). There are still risks for non-related people to have birth defects.
2007-12-22 00:13:06 · answer #8 · answered by Crispie 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i believe this is an old wives tale!! Several very elitist families have kept it "all in the family" for quite a long time, and they obviously don't have birth defects! I don't think that DNA works that way anyhow! I think the whole thing about getting dna testing had more to do with religious ideals rather than medical concern to begin with. Who cares..be with who makes you happy.
2007-12-22 00:12:15 · answer #9 · answered by cjbunny420 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I don't know what is is the DNA that tends to cause birth/health defects but in some states/counties if you have a child out of incest the county/state may take your child. One other thing....EEEWWWEEEYYY!!!
2007-12-22 00:14:52 · answer #10 · answered by candy w 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The old wives tale about cousins having babies has been disproved in recent years. Several states now allow 1st cousins to marry. It's not like it use to be. Have a healthy baby
2007-12-22 00:10:24 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋