Is cousin marriage really okay? In Kentucky, a bill was sponsored to remove “first cousin” from the list of incestuous family relations, causing a frenzy on social media. The bill was quickly withdrawn, but the debate continues. With much of Kentucky stereotyped for encouraging incestuous behavior, geneticists say it’s mostly fine, with some caveats. The risk to offspring is greater, but the increase is quite small. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, about 3% of all babies born in America have birth defects. The National Society of Genetic Counsellors published updated guidelines for consanguineous couples and their offspring, stating that for “couples with no known genetic disorders in the family, there is an additional 1.7% to 2.8% risk for significant birth defects.”
2024-02-15 10:59:41
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