In a cousin marriage, both the husband & wife are cousins either first cousin, second cousin or third and fourth cousin. With the advancement of technology, recently few questions are raised is cousin marriage dangerous? What are the dangers of cousin marriage? Are their children more likely to have genetic defects? If we have a basic knowledge of the science of genetics, the answer to this question becomes a little easier to understand.
Historically, cousin marriages have been common in every part of the world. In the past, the means of transportation were so limited that dating was limited to a few miles. When it comes to finding a mate, usually people from your own family are available. So, it was common to marry first cousins and second cousins.
Children Inherit Traits from their Parents
We should also understand the basics of human DNA to further strengthen our argument that cousin marriages can be dangerous. The zygote formed during pregnancy from the mother’s egg and the father’s sperm is a single-celled organism. This is called a stem cell. This cell contains a nucleus.
When you look at the nucleus through a microscope, you can see tiny thread-like objects moving in it. Which we call chromosomes. These 23 pairs, or one human cell, have 46 chromosomes. The number of these chromosomes varies in different animals and plants. For example, a cat has 38 chromosomes and a dog has 78 chromosomes. A cactus tree has 12 chromosomes and a pigeon has 80 chromosomes. An elephant has 56 chromosomes.
When you enlarge the chromosome under a microscope, you will see a series of spiral objects. Which we know as DNA. We call a small piece of DNA a gene. The human genome has 46 chromosomes. There are 20,000 genes … and 3 billion pieces of information in one human genome. Chromosomes, genes, genomes, DNA, all of these together record human characteristics and genetic information. The genome is a recipe book and the gene is a recipe. The genome determines what our entire structure will look like. And genes carry information stored in DNA to make every part of the body. Our teeth, eyes, colour, weight, height, all these are the work of genes. Genes work to make proteins, and proteins make the human body. Which genes have been altered or mutated determines which part of the body did not heal.
Distribution of Genetic Material in Cousin Marriage
Now come to our discussion. If a man marries his fourth cousin, a person whose fourth-generation, the two will have 0.2% DNA in common. If marriage takes place between a third cousin, he will have 0.78% DNA in common. Or if someone ties a knot with a second cousin, he will have 3.13% DNA in common. And if he marries a first cousin, he will have 12.5% DNA in common. Sibling marriage is forbidden in every culture because doing so would involve 25% DNA in common. It would greatly increase the chances of genetic disease in children.
Recessive Conditions Increase Risk of Disease in Cousin Marriage
Many people defend cousin marriage because there is no history of disease in their genetic predisposition in their family. So, cousin marriage in their family is not likely to cause genetic problems in children. But this argument is not correct. There are certain conditions known as ‘recessive‘ conditions. These are caused by inheriting two copies of a gene each of which carries a mutation. It seems we may each carry about 12 mutations associated with recessive conditions. There are about 3.5 thousand recessive conditions, most of them very rare. So the chance of both partners carrying a mutation in the same gene is low.
The possibility of a genetic disease does not necessarily mean that the parents have an apparent genetic disease. Cystic fibrosis, for example, happens due to a defect in the CFTR gene. But the disease appears only if the mutation is there in both copies of that gene in one’s DNA. If there is only one copy, the person does not have cystic fibrosis. But such persons will be considered carriers of the disease. If the carrier of the mutated CFTR is married to a person who does not have this mutation, children have zero chance of developing the disease. But if both spouses have the same mutation, then children have a 25 per cent chance of developing the disease. This will be one in four risks of an affected child each time they conceive a child. It makes cousin marriage dangerous.
The Possibility of Genetic Disease Increase with Each First Cousin Marriage
The probability of a single genetic disease in children from the marriage of first cousins is up to 7%. While the probability of the same disease in the general population is up to 4%. If there is a 4% chance of a genetic disease in the general public and a 7% chance of disease in children with cousin marriage, is it a big risk? But it will be correct if there is only one genetic predisposition in humans. But there would be thousands of genetic diseases whose mutated genes may be present in the DNA of our ancestors. First cousin marriage increases the chances of each of these genetic diseases. Overall, first cousin marriages are more likely to have at least one genetic disease in children. They are more likely to have genetic diseases in the general population.
If the parents of the first cousins are also first cousins, the risk of genetic diseases in the children increases. This makes cousin marriage dangerous. If their grandparents were also first cousins and grandparents were also first cousins then this risk increases. This is because in this case, new genetic material did not add to the family for many generations. Old genes create a new combination for many generations and lead to genetic diseases.
Genetic Testing to Determine the Risks in Cousin Marriage
Couples should go for genetic testing prior to marriage to determine if cousin marriage is dangerous. To prevent and treat the next generation of disabilities, genetic/ hereditary & chronic diseases, doctors perform genetic testing. It assesses the possibility of relatively common genetic diseases in children. https://www.fajarmag.com/genetic-testing-and-its-types/
Genetic testing involves taking a sample of our blood, saliva, sweat or a single cell to study DNA. It also studies how our body is functioning. Genes are just a fragment of DNA. This test determines which genes have a mutation or do we have any sleeping cancer, haemophilia, thalassemia or cystic fibrosis. Genetic testing also tells which gene can wake up in our children when we are fine. Or can our children can get these diseases. This also talks about how it can change our own bodies. Genetic testing is to anticipate an illness or seek genetic counselling from experts. This helps in the prevention of the transmission of genes to the next generation.
If the genetic tests show the possibility of such common diseases then the marriage should not take place. This is because cousin marriage will be dangerous in that case. Also, keep in mind that genetic tests usually only provide information about a few diseases. The results of genetic tests are encouraging, still there is the possibility that some of the genetic diseases can occur.
Global Impact of Cousin Marriage
According to the World Health Organization, 15% of the world’s 8 billion people, suffer from some form of disability. Out of one billion, 490 million are hearing-impaired and affected worldwide. According to a report published in 2018 by WHO, the world’s population will exceed 10 billion by 2050. There will be 1.5 billion hearing-impaired people. Where 1 billion people worldwide are special. At the same time, scientists having intelligence are working day and night to protect their next generation from disabilities.
Scientists are making efforts to somehow prevent disability before it occurs because many diseases and disabilities are still incurable today. Human genetics plays a key role in this prevention. Geneticists are trying to protect the human body from viruses, chronic diseases, infections, life-threatening diseases and disabilities. By conducting new experiments and observations in the field of genetic testing, they save many lives.
Conclusion
Of course, genetic testing can help diagnose and treat any problem. But we cannot say that it is 100% correct. There are trillions of trillions inside DNA and genes. Which the human intellect will still be able to solve millions of years later. Did you know that some human genes are also present in other animals and plants? This means that life began trillions of years ago with a single cell. That is why the whole universe came into being. In genetic testing, scientists study the parts of the protein-encoding, exome. After examination, they determine if it can affect our health or our children in some way.