It is a common trend of cultures to marry within own blood relations. Do you think it may be harmful to the children of such couple or their next generation?
Please explain only scientific views and research reports.
Dear Shibabrata Pattanayak , different studies revealed that children born from parents who were closely related increases the risks of having a baby with potentially life-threatening birth defects.
Marrying within a family can lead to abnormalities in your future offspring. This is because within a family, certain genetic traits remain dormant and are known as recessive genes (they are not seen as a disease or condition).
When two people having the same genes marry and reproduce, these once dormant recessive (ineffective) genes double, making them more likely to cause genetic abnormalities in children.
Although, the fact that people who marry within the second generation are more susceptible is fairly true. But for eg. If your grandfather and parents have had marriages within the family, your children are at greater risk due to the overcrowding of the gene pool.
To explain better, think of it this way. If your grandfather had some recessive genes and he married someone in the family with those same recessive genes i.e. those once dormant genes become dominant (more likely to cause genetic abnormalities). Your parents then got married within the same family making the concentration of these recessive genes even more. Now when you marry someone within your family, this gene pool will further become dense with recessive genes, due to both your genes getting added to the pool, making the possibility of your children having genetic abnormalities very high.
Well, Genetics forbids that because of more chances of mutations and related disorders
Yup there is more chances to genetics disorder.the proper genetic disorder take places.the immune system is also effected and the child become weak...
It is called incest. It doesn't make any scientific sense to practice.It kills the genetic probability assumptions and doesn't support Malthusian theory.
Dear Shibabrata Pattanayak , different studies revealed that children born from parents who were closely related increases the risks of having a baby with potentially life-threatening birth defects.
Marrying within a family can lead to abnormalities in your future offspring. This is because within a family, certain genetic traits remain dormant and are known as recessive genes (they are not seen as a disease or condition).
When two people having the same genes marry and reproduce, these once dormant recessive (ineffective) genes double, making them more likely to cause genetic abnormalities in children.
Although, the fact that people who marry within the second generation are more susceptible is fairly true. But for eg. If your grandfather and parents have had marriages within the family, your children are at greater risk due to the overcrowding of the gene pool.
To explain better, think of it this way. If your grandfather had some recessive genes and he married someone in the family with those same recessive genes i.e. those once dormant genes become dominant (more likely to cause genetic abnormalities). Your parents then got married within the same family making the concentration of these recessive genes even more. Now when you marry someone within your family, this gene pool will further become dense with recessive genes, due to both your genes getting added to the pool, making the possibility of your children having genetic abnormalities very high.
Of course yes. This is typical inbreeding. After several generations the results will begin to show
Of course yes. A link between cousin marriage and health problems– including heart and lung problems and recognised syndromes such as Down’s – linked to genetic inheritance, has been observed in communities around the world.
Regardes.
With all the previous objective answers, and remains the difference in the human immune system and the impact of different environmental conditions
Only a mixed dog can perform with great artistry in a circus. All types of human inbreeding multiply the danger of genetic disorders, according to the natural laws of biology and genetics. Hopefully, humankind will become a mixed multitude, with strong common cultural and ethical bonds.
https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/need-get-explan-what-side-affects-ot-geting-392240
I only know that of the immigrant groups in the UK, those from cultures which commonly practise marriaige with cousins, etc, have greater long term involvement with medical services.
Yes, some cases had been proven that such marriage is harmful to the children and the next generation. However, there were few cases had been gone smooth. Overall, such marriage has a high risk and better advice to be avoided.
Yes. Marriages within blood relations increses the risk of abortions, congenital anomalies and autosomal recessive disorders. The closer the relationship, the higher the risk.
Please have a look at these attached publications.
Dear Dr. Pattanayak Sir,
Please also have a look at these PDF attachments.
Good luck!
Well , I do not know but in Hindus (at least Bhramins) we see Gotra and say until 7 generation lapse people from same gotra are not supposed to get married (I am told )
I think it is not healthy scientifically as highlighted by Dr. Beemnet. Personally, I object such marriages based on my personal beliefs and values.
Please have a look as this useful ResearchGate link.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/7966573_Endogamy_Consanguinity_and_Community_Disease_Profiles
Please see the below given link for how to prevent genetic disorders arising from such marriages.
https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_to_prevent_hereditary_diseases_in_a_highly_consanguineous_population/1
Inbreeding Coefficient is progressive : from 1/64 to 1/256.
https://link.springer.com/10.1007%2F978-1-4020-6754-9_8397
Traduire cette pagede GP Rédei - 200816 juil. 2016 - Denotes the probability that two alleles at a locus in an individual are identical by descent from a common ancestor, i.e., the chance that an individual is homozygous for an ancestral allele by inheritance (not by mutation). The inbreeding coefficient for second cousins is 1/64 and for third cousins it is 1/256.
Hello,
It is unanimously agreed today that marriage between blood relations may lead to severe genetic consequences. Such type of marriages are most common in certain religions like Islam and the living exemplars with abnormal genetic disorders are a usual sight in these societies
Best regards
R.Biria
Dear Dr. Biria,
This custom is not confined in only one religion.
In some parts of India (south India), marriage with daughter of own elder sister is considered as auspicious!
That is a regional practice. That is not practiced among Hindu communities of other states.
For such reasons the present discussions are very much important.
Regards.
Agree with Dr. Beemnet. Such marriages bring in genetic disorders and other complications. Having studied genetics I am against any such alliances.
As stated by Aparna Sathya Murthy in the Hindu community before marriages Gotra and other details are sort so that an alliance between the same genetic pool is avoided.
There are several risks involved & there is enough evidence. Best to avoid.
I think it is not healthy scientifically as highlighted by Dr. Beemnet. I fully endorse Aparna's views. In our religion the same procedure is adopted Aparna mam
Dear prof. Pattanayak, I do not know about the medical issue, bit I am certainly sure that these relationships are not natural.
Regards,
Janusheva
Such marriage greatly affects the genetic characteristics of the offspring or subsequent generations .
Such marriage greatly affects the genetic characteristics of the offspring or subsequent generations .
Dear Dr. Vibha Sharma and Dr K N Sheth, can you please share us reports which supports your opinion. I am interested to understand the hereditary genetics explained behind that makes different among the other study reports which are in contrary.
Actually I believe in science and even I have gone further through different reports and they are indicating the possibility risks in the subsequent offspring's because of inbreeding.
Couples who are first cousins are estimated to have about a 1.7% to 2.8% increased risk for significant congenital defects above the population background risk. There is approximately a 4.4% increased risk for pre-reproductive mortality above the background risk, some of which includes major congenital defects (Bennett et al., 2002).
For this I agree with the responses of Dr. Arvind Singh, Dr. Ali Alhayany, Dr. Marpha Telepova-Texier , Dr. Emmanuel Vijayanand Murray, Dr.Hassan Hammadi, Dr. Stephen I. Ternyik
Please go through these links to have more understanding about the issue in addition to the interesting links suggested by Dr. Arvind Singh, , Dr. Ola Adel
http://www.hemophilia.ca/en/bleeding-disorders/hemophilia-a-and-b/heredity-of-hemophilia/
https://www.larasig.com/node/2020
http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/the-biology-of-first-cousin-marriages/article4902050.ece
If this continuous for along time, it will be harmful due to inbreeding depression!! In another words, this will gathering the deleterious alleles that have been covered by dominant alleles in the heterozygous genotype!
Close blood relation marriages are common in many tribes of India. Several studies reports the harmful effects of such marriages on the progenies. Please have a look at these ResearchGate links and PDF attachments.
Article Inbreeding effects on reproductive outcome among 7 tribes of...
Article Effects of Inbreeding in the Mudugar and Irular Tribal Popul...
Article Consanguinity and Its Effects on Differential Fertility and ...
Article Impact of consanguineous marriages and degrees of inbreeding...
Article Inbreeding effects on human reproduction in Tamil Nadu of South India
Article Mortality, Inbreeding, Genetic Load in Rellis : A Subdivided...
Article Inbreeding and fertility in a South Indian population
Article Impact of Consanguinity on Fertility and Mortality
Thank you so much Dr. Arvind Singh for your contribution in providing indispensable information. I hope Dr. Vibha Sharma and Dr K N Sheth will also go through the information.
In the mature âge (after 65) this type of mariage is very interesting.
Best regards,
MTT
In genetic studies among birds and animals, effect of Inbreeding on progenies are understood by several types of typical breeding like Full sib or Half sib cross, Back cross etc. Generally effects are seen bad for the reasons stated earlier by our RG scientists.
This is totally not acceptable in all respects. I believe with our level of understanding, education, science, technology etc; we should know far better than previous generations. Where is our "enlightenment" so called leading us to?
In my own opinion, this practice is practically unlawful, unclean, disgusting, and unprofitable in the long run.
Dear Shibabrata Pattanayak,
In my country marriage within blood relations is forbiden. Marriages of this type are clear examples of incest, inbreeding, and consaguinity. There is accumulated evidence, namely in genetic studies, that shows that marriage within blood relatations has detrimental effects (e.g., Down’s syndrome) to children of such couple and future generations.
I know that it is a common trend found in several cultures. There are many other cultural practices (e.g., to treat women and children unfairly, circumcision, and so forth) that have to be followed only because they exist. To argue that we should approve all that exists just because it exists is to fall prey to the naturalistic fallacy. For example, there are many crazy and bad people all over the world. This does not mean, however, that we have to accept such state of affairs. Our colleague Beemnet cogently explains how recessive genes can become dominant genes when marriage within blood relations is the case.
Best regards,
Orlando
I think the more the circle is outside your blood the better it is and God knows
@ Beemnet Mengesha Kassahun
Gotra (equivalent to clan) system in India is a system of identifying people of similar lineage who are descendants of a common male ancestor. People within the gotra are regarded as siblings and marrying such a person would be the thought of as taboo. In almost all Hindu families, marriage within the same gotra is not encouraged or practiced since they are believed to be descended from the same family. Marriages between opposite gotra are therefore encouraged.
http://www.hitxp.com/articles/veda/science-genetics-vedic-hindu-gotra-y-chromosome-male-lineage-extinction/
https://detechter.com/why-same-gotra-marriage-is-forbidden-science-behind-hindu-gotra-system/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6o6sfdULdzo
https://www.speakingtree.in/allslides/the-science-behind-same-gotra-marriages
http://internethindu.in/science-of-genetics-behind-the-hindu-gotra-system-why-same-gotra-cannot-marry/
It is not natural. It is genetically unhealthy to practice such. It is called incest.
hildren born to parents who were not cousins but were closely related also had an increased risk
Marriage between first cousins more than doubles the chance of having a baby with potentially life-threatening birth defects, a study of births in Bradford has revealed.
From a sample of nearly 11,000 births between 2007 and 2011, more than 2,000 babies were born to first cousin parents – predominately from the city’s large Pakistani population. The children of such unions, which represented more than a third of all the Pakistani-origin babies in the study, had a six per cent chance of having a congenital abnormality, compared to an average 3 per cent chance.
Children born to parents who were not cousins but were closely related also had an increased risk. Overall the number of birth defects in Bradford was more than double the UK average – which stands at 1.7 per cent. Researchers said that pre-natal health services in cities with large Pakistani populations should include advice on the risks of marrying close family members.
A link between cousin marriage and health problems– including heart and lung problems and recognised syndromes such as Down’s – linked to genetic inheritance, has been observed in communities around the world. More than one billion people live in communities where the practice is commonplace. Only one per cent of unions in the UK are between cousins, but in Bradford that figure is much higher – 18 per cent of unions, and 37 per cent of those within the Pakistani community.
The new “Born in Bradford” study, published in The Lancet today, is largest of its type and the first in the UK to take into account the effect of socio-economic factors, age and lifestyle factors the prevalence of birth defects, in order to isolate the impact that cousin marriage – or consanguinity.
Nearly a third (31 per cent) of birth defects in Pakistani origin babies could be attributed to marriage between blood relatives, researchers from the University of Bradford and the University of Leeds said, but they stressed that the absolute increase in risk was small.
“At the heart of all this is children that are being born with often very distressing illnesses,” said Professor Neil Small, of the University of Bradford. “Many of these things are preventable, what we hope our paper does is contribute to a debate that means that in the future, some of them will be prevented. We customarily offer pre-conception and ante-natal advice that looks at areas like maternal age and health-related behaviours such as smoking, alcohol consumption. We think that in areas with high levels of consanguinity we could add to that health promotion package information about the risks associated with cousin marriage.”
Dr Rafaqut Rashid, a Bradford GP, said that there was already awareness within the community about the risks of cousin marriage.
“Different families will take on this advice in different ways. Patients should be given an informed choice,” he said. “We don’t want to force anything on patients. They will measure what’s beneficial for them. That’s not for us to dictate.
“Families tend to weigh the benefits in accordance to the advice you give them. Patients often recognise social benefits to cousin marriages: extended families, social stability, marital stability,” he added.
regards
Babies born out of such wedlock could have a multiplicity of congenital problems. Heart problems top the list, followed by nervous disorders, limb anomalies and so forth. The problem in such close relative marriages surfaces when one of the partners carries a defect in any of the genes associated with some form of illness. When marriage is within the community with one who may also have such a family defect, the child inherits two copies of this faulty gene, and thus has the defect. But when marriage is outside the community, you bring in genes from a much larger gene pool, and the odds that the child will inherit the problem reduce remarkably.
A recent issue of Science magazine covered this topic, vol. 354 (2016). I was shocked to learn that 60% of marriages in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are between first cousins. The frequency of congenital birth defects is very high because of this, never mind the effects on intellectual ability whcih are more difficult to measure.
Thank you so much dear Dr. Arvind Singh , for giving clear explanation about Gotra. I also agree with your final suggestion.
https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/need-get-explan-what-side-affects-ot-geting-392240
Respected all researchers,
I have seen all answers and almost all of us believing the same that consanguineous marriage must be avoided.
Before 2000 years, in Ayurveda also, Charaka Acharya has given the same advice by formulating a chapter called "Atulya Gotriya Sharira". They have described almost the same thing, which all of us discussing here.
But,
Now major question arise that, after knowing the bad effect of such relations, are we able to seize such customs? What are the measure by which we can stop such customs? because ultimately doing so is in benefit of all humanity.
Yes, altohough theree are some exceptions around the world, in generall marriage within blood relations certainly harmful to the children or next generations.
thank you
Yes, marriage to relatives in the blood has harmful effects on children and generations later and this happened in our family, as we have a number of children with disabilities, some of them have six fingers in the hands and feet and others have problems in the heart valves and openings in the heart .
Dear Dr. Alhayany,
Sorry, sir. It is a very painful news to me.
One of my colleagues having only a daughter suffering from Thalassemia. It is also a genetic disease. It is very painful to observe the condition of the child. She is now taking blood at every month. Doctor said she may live maximum upto another 6 months.
Maybe not the next generation directly, but subsequent generations will suffer from this inbreeding
THANKS TO ALL
HOW about not close relatives, but having abnormal children?
Dear Dr. Karimi,
These are perhaps due to genetic reasons. Marriage between close blood relatives increase the chance of such genetic effects far more.
Thanks.
The problem in such close relative marriages surfaces when one of the partners carries a defect in any of the genes associated with some form of illness. When you marry within the community with one who may also have such a family defect, the child inherits two copies of this faulty gene, and thus has the defect. But when you marry outside the community, you bring in genes from a much larger gene pool, and the odds that the child will inherit the problem reduce remarkably.
Is there any lab test to know this prior going for Marriage? If it is, pls list it out.
Is there anyway to reduce this risk by following test-tube baby?
Dear Dr. Rajagopal,
So far I know, Haemoglobin electrophoresis of girls and boys is a test to identify carriers of Thalassaemia. The carriers are adviced not to marry.
But for other such diseases, existence of such tests may be written by the experts.
Thanks
High chances of genetic mutation or abnormalities to the offspring
Inbreeding means some deteriorated characters are likely to reflect.
Narrowing down the genetic base itself is supposed to bring some recessive characters to become dominant with time and generations.
So ultimately,health issues will be there when we attempt marriages in close loop.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Medicine
- Epi
- Age Groups
- Children