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Go Ahead, Marry Your Cousin

Relatively small chance of birth defects doesn't warrant the taboo, says new report

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 24, 2008 7:34 AM CST

(Newser) – Laws against first cousins marrying are unnecessary and should be repealed, argue two scientists in a recent Public Science of Biology editorial. The risk of genetic defects in children born of cousin marriages is estimated at 2%-3% higher than in the general population, Wired reports, but no greater than that of middle-aged women having children.

Laws against cousin marriage are based on incorrect scientific assumptions that are no longer defensible—and create a real form of discrimination, the zoologists say. "I'm aware of people who have been afraid to tell people that they're in love with their cousins, who've become pregnant and potentially terminated a pregnancy based on false information," one genetic counselor said. "Or they didn't marry the person they loved because of their concerns."

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

Albert Einstein married his first cousin after splitting from his first wife, although the union produced no children. (©? S?µ?? ?)

"The laws against cousin marriage are archaic, outdated and counterproductive," an anthropologist argues in 'Forbidden Relatives: The Myth of American Cousin Marriage.' (Shutter Stock)

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People worry about not getting health insurance—but saying that someone shouldn't marry based on how they're related, when there's no known harm, to me is a form of discrimination. - Robin Bennett, a University of Washington genetic counselor

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 6 comments

riffran

Jan 9, 2009 6:19 AM CST

Rember hemophilia?...A disease that is genetic in origin, attributed to british royalty inbreeding in the age of pagentry..the victorian age, I do think....."keep it in the family" was the key phrase...but hey, if someone wants to, they can always make a "Deliverance 2, the sequel"....yikes....and as for the Adam and Eve thing???? I would LOVE to hear a good answer to that dilemma....lol...riff

Michael_CT

Jan 2, 2009 2:20 AM CST

But wait! Adam and Eve had babies!? I wonder what the church has to say about this issue? afterall, the Bible is to be believed literally. . .

Shannonals

Dec 27, 2008 2:19 AM CST

Isn't there soemthing else more newsworthy to write about?

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Wired (Source Grid »)

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genetics • marriage • cousins • taboo • incest • birth defect

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Go Ahead, Marry Your Cousin