Comments on: Inbreeding and Genetic Disease http://www.blisstree.com/articles/inbreeding-and-genetic-disease/ Family, Health, Home and Lifestyles Sun, 20 Dec 2009 19:19:34 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Genetics and Health » Inbreeding and Diabetes in Norfolk, UK http://www.blisstree.com/articles/inbreeding-and-genetic-disease/comment-page-1/#comment-567331 Genetics and Health » Inbreeding and Diabetes in Norfolk, UK Mon, 14 Aug 2006 17:36:16 +0000 http://www.geneticsandhealth.com/?p=166#comment-567331 [...] Rob at Diabetes Notes has already written about Dr. Ian Gibson’s comment on BBC Radio that the higher incidence of type 1 diabetes in Norfolk, UK may be partially explained by inbreeding. The Spoof! has more. Dr Gibson, 67, stood by his comments yesterday, to achieve this he had them enlarged and placed on a poster, and insisted that he had not meant to cause offence. “If you have a high frequency of genes with a predisposition to type 1 diabetes, then you have to ask why that is,” he said. [...] [...] Rob at Diabetes Notes has already written about Dr. Ian Gibson’s comment on BBC Radio that the higher incidence of type 1 diabetes in Norfolk, UK may be partially explained by inbreeding. The Spoof! has more. Dr Gibson, 67, stood by his comments yesterday, to achieve this he had them enlarged and placed on a poster, and insisted that he had not meant to cause offence. “If you have a high frequency of genes with a predisposition to type 1 diabetes, then you have to ask why that is,” he said. [...]

]]> By: » Implications of the Dog Genome Genetics and Health http://www.blisstree.com/articles/inbreeding-and-genetic-disease/comment-page-1/#comment-566389 » Implications of the Dog Genome Genetics and Health Thu, 08 Dec 2005 11:37:28 +0000 http://www.geneticsandhealth.com/?p=166#comment-566389 [...] A list of 2.5 million common genetic differences between dogs has been compiled, which will make it easier to understand the effects of intensive inbreeding and selection for specific traits. [...] [...] A list of 2.5 million common genetic differences between dogs has been compiled, which will make it easier to understand the effects of intensive inbreeding and selection for specific traits. [...]

]]> By: Lei http://www.blisstree.com/articles/inbreeding-and-genetic-disease/comment-page-1/#comment-566262 Lei Thu, 18 Aug 2005 03:21:09 +0000 http://www.geneticsandhealth.com/?p=166#comment-566262 Brad, I stand corrected. Research has shown that children of matings between first cousins are only at slightly elevated risk of genetic diseases - children of non-related couples have a 2-3% risk of birth defects, as opposed to first cousins having a 4-6% risk and second cousins have little to any increase in risk of having children with genetic disorders. Genetic counselors agree that this small increase in risk could easily be managed with proper genetic counseling.<br /> <br /> (I'll go make the edit now.) Brad, I stand corrected. Research has shown that children of matings between first cousins are only at slightly elevated risk of genetic diseases – children of non-related couples have a 2-3% risk of birth defects, as opposed to first cousins having a 4-6% risk and second cousins have little to any increase in risk of having children with genetic disorders. Genetic counselors agree that this small increase in risk could easily be managed with proper genetic counseling.

(I’ll go make the edit now.)

]]> By: Brad http://www.blisstree.com/articles/inbreeding-and-genetic-disease/comment-page-1/#comment-566031 Brad Thu, 18 Aug 2005 03:11:16 +0000 http://www.geneticsandhealth.com/?p=166#comment-566031 Your statement that "most first cousin marriages are at no greater risk of producing children with genetic disorders" seems misleading to me. I agree that most people probably don't have any recessive genes for genetic disorders, but among those who do, their first cousins are significantly more likely to share that gene with them compared to a non-relative, and therefore children of such a marriage would be at a far greater risk of genetic disorders than if those same people had married non-cousins. Considering that few (if any) of us can say with 100% confidence that we have zero recessive genes for genetic disorders, it seems that practically everyone would be at <i>some</i> elevated risk for having children with genetic disorders if they were to procreate with a first cousin.<br /> <br /> I hope that makes sense. I do know where you're coming from, but until each of us knows our entire genome, I'm not sure we can say with any confidence that having children with a first cousin doesn't carry any greater risk. Your statement that "most first cousin marriages are at no greater risk of producing children with genetic disorders" seems misleading to me. I agree that most people probably don’t have any recessive genes for genetic disorders, but among those who do, their first cousins are significantly more likely to share that gene with them compared to a non-relative, and therefore children of such a marriage would be at a far greater risk of genetic disorders than if those same people had married non-cousins. Considering that few (if any) of us can say with 100% confidence that we have zero recessive genes for genetic disorders, it seems that practically everyone would be at <i>some</i> elevated risk for having children with genetic disorders if they were to procreate with a first cousin.

I hope that makes sense. I do know where you’re coming from, but until each of us knows our entire genome, I’m not sure we can say with any confidence that having children with a first cousin doesn’t carry any greater risk.

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