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 16:08:50 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Other - Health
The closer the relationship the likelier there will be defects. For example,there is a tendency toward mental disorders and circulatory problems on my father's side of the family. So if I had a child by a cousin on his side, the child's chances of inheriting those defects are increased by at least 25% - 50%. It also increases the odds that a child who will be mentally retarded.
If we all had pretty much the same dna we would all pretty much look alike (skin color, hair, eyes, body shapes, etc) and have the same illnesses. If you took biology it's safe to say that you weren't paying attention.
2007-12-21 16:20:37 · answer #1 · answered by Judith 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Inbreeding, which is what we are discussing, doesn't lead directly and without any doubt to problems with offspring. It increases the risks of problems, because many of the genes are the same and any problematic inheritances will be much more likely to appear.
Take as an example. Let's say my family carries the gene for cystic fibrosis. Most people do not carry this gene. However, because it exists in my family, my cousin is much more likely to have the gene than the normal population. If my cousin and I had a child, the odds would be much higher than normal the the baby would have cystic fibrosis.
The same sort of odds exist for all of the unusual traits that exist as recessive and secondary genetic attributes. Furthermore, a negative random mutation that would eventually breed out over a few generations in normal circumstances is far more likely to manifest when genetic material is too similar.
In a nutshell, the odds increase a lot that there will be problems when breeding too closely within the family, although the truth is that such relationships were very common in the past. It wasn't just the royalty that married cousins. And there were problems with the offspring, which is why people tend not to breed to closely in the family.
2007-12-21 16:24:55 · answer #2 · answered by busterwasmycat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
most persons into genealogy will find that they have a cousin/cousin marriage somewhere in their history. For the most part, there is not harm... unless both carry a genetic disorder of some kind. Just the fact of being related will not cause a birth defect.
2007-12-21 16:21:03 · answer #3 · answered by wendy c 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not an old wives's tale. The closer relation the two parents are, the greater the probability of the child inheriting two recessives of the same gene, or more precisely, inheriting two recessives in each of hundreds of characteristics. This raises the incidence of stillbirths and genetic defects substantially.
2007-12-21 16:36:38 · answer #4 · answered by Computer Guy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, everyone has different markers in their DNA that differentiate us from one another. First cousins are so closely related that their DNA is just about as similar as siblings. We know why we don't marry our siblings, right?
We have a huge gene pool out there to mix up and make great kids...why would anyone want to narrow it by having a child with a cousin?
2007-12-21 16:13:47 · answer #5 · answered by RayeKaye 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You have asked this question so many times... haven't you gotten the answer you are seeking yet...
If you want to be with your cousin... ew, but that's your choice I guess... please adopt, or not have children at all...
2007-12-21 16:17:32 · answer #6 · answered by sunshine 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you will have alot of explaining to do to the confused child
2007-12-21 16:16:55 · answer #7 · answered by lovin'30! 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋