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Monday, March 16th, 2015

Marriage between first cousins doubles risk of birth defects, say researchers

Author:     Sarah Boseley
Source:     The Guardian (U.K.)
Publication Date:     Wednesday 3 July 2013 19.01 EDT
 Link: Marriage between first cousins doubles risk of birth defects, say researchers
Stephan:  
People get very freaked out the societal effects of genetics becomes involved. I think it arises from Nazis Eugenics, and the experimentation done on Blacks in the South by White physicians that was justified by genetics. It makes people queasy to to talk about. But that doesn't mean it is not a factor with serious consequences. This article deals with one example: birth defects in the Islamic culture where close consanguinity is a social norm. But, as I read this article I thought of two other examples of either enforced or elected genetic selection that has demonstrated societal consequences.
Those descended from West Africans have resistance to malaria because over time only those who were survived malaria in Africa got to pass on their gene line. That's why there are African Americans in the South. The original attempt to people the southern colonies with Irish peasants, English slum poor, and prisoners failed. They tended to die within 18 months of malaria or yellow fever. But Africans did not. Unfortunately, as often happens in genetics, the gift came with a sting.  At the same time West Africans became vulnerable to Sickle Cell Anemia.
Ashkenazi Jews, another defined group, because they were ghettoized and isolated in Christian countries, and because intellect, which was portable, became a value trait in the Jewish community created another kind of skew. A greatly disproportionate number of Ashkenazi Jews have been awarded the Nobel Prize.  Of the 850 individuals who have won prizes, 22% (if the peace prize is deleted over 24%) have been Jews. To place this in context: Jews comprise less than 0.2% of the world's population. It breaks down thusly: Ashkenazis have won 41% of all the Nobel Prizes for economics, 28% of the prizes for medicine, 26% for Physics, 19% for Chemistry, 13% for Literature and 9% of all peace awards.
We are genetically labile just like every other being on Earth. We should remember that when we consider social programs. Once again, it will be clear that the compassionate and life-affirming options are the best choices.
Bradford Royal Infirmary, where the babies who were the subject of the birth defect study were born. Credit: Christopher Thomond

Bradford Royal Infirmary, in the U.K., where the babies who were the subject of the birth defect study were born.
Credit: Christopher Thomond

Marriage between first cousins doubles the risk of children being born with birth defects, according to a study seeking answers to the higher than expected rates of deaths and congenital abnormalities in the babies of the Pakistani community.

Researchers have concluded that the cultural practice of marriage between first cousins is a bigger factor than any other – outweighing the effects of deprivation in parts of Bradford, where the study was carried out. Marriage to a blood relative accounted for nearly a third (31%) of all birth defects in babies of Pakistani origin. (emphasis added)

The risk of having a baby with birth defects – usually heart or nervous system problems which can sometimes be fatal – is still small, but it rises from […]

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