The incest taboo?

Question

does incest REALLY cause babies to come out retarded

....or is it a age old sociologic norm that promotes greater genetic variety within communities?

Answer 1

start from here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incest#Inbr...

Answer 2

It's a myth! You know what they say: vice is nice, but incest is best! It is a common practice when we breed animals: defects are rare.

Answer 3

Senlin's answer is on the right track.  There are recessive genes and dominant genes.  When a recessive gene is paired with a dominant gene, the dominant gene determines the end product.  So, two parents must pass on a recessive gene in order for the recessive trait to show.  This is much more likely when related people mate because if one has a recessive gene, there is a higher change that the other does as well, since they share similar codes.  

The key to all of this is that genes that lead to disease are typically recessive genes.  Why?  Well, think in evolutionary terms.  Diseases that are caused by dominant genes would occur four times as often as diseases that are caused by recessive genes.  Since they produce diseases, the dominant genes would hinder reproduction of the offspring.  A dominant disease would produce more sterile or disadvantaged offspring than a recessive disease.  Therefore, the dominant ones tend to be weeded out faster.

Does this mean that two relatives shouldn't mate for this reason?  No, just because there is an increased risk for something doesn't mean we shouldn't do it.  I would just advise looking at family histories for genetic diseases.  That should help in decision making.

Answer 4

I agree with the previous respondent. Remember, however, that the issue is genetic, not marital. In other words, the adverse effects come from genetic similarities, not from procreating with a relative by marriage.

Answer 5

From a biological perspective, restricting the gene pool (as would be done with incest) results in a higher risk for some type of genetic abnormality.  A family may carry a recessive gene for a disorder such as cystic fibrosis, which only occurs when both parents provide the recessive gene.  If two family members produce a child, the liklihood of the child getting the recessive gene from each parent is much higher than if one of the family members reproduces with someone in the general population.  So the child of an incestuous relationship COULD be completely normal, but there would be a higher risk for problems.

Answer 6

Its not an automatic thing, but because the DNA of the two people involved is so similar, the chances of physical and/or mental problems in the child increase significantly.

Answer 7

Well - the human race is stronger because of bio diversity and it wouldn't be if we were all kissing cousins.  A genetic defect would be magnified if folks from the same gene pool were to produce babies.