Research downplays risk of cousin marriages

USA TODAY ^ | 4/4/02 | Richard Willing

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Marriage between first cousins, long a major legal, social and religious taboo, is far less likely to produce abnormal children than is commonly believed, a study by leading genetics researchers says.

"Stigma still attaches to these unions," says Robin Bennett, a genetics counselor at the University of Washington and the study's lead author.

[Brett66]

This should make Klinton happy, it expands his options.

[anniegetyourgun]

Great news for folks from WV?

AGYG <----ducking!

[marktuoni]

The Levine Book tells us we can have sex with kids, this research tells us we can have sex with our cousins....Next Beastiality will be promoted as an acceptable diversion....God, help us!

[Wurlitzer]

Gee, I always thought that is where dumbocraps and politicians came from.

[Biblebelter]

This is great news for inbreeding. It enlarges the dating pool by putting the union back in family reunion.

[thinden]

you're in luck!

[Ward Smythe]

Marriage between first cousins, long a major legal, social and religious taboo, is far less likely to produce abnormal children than is commonly believed, a study by leading genetics researchers says.

I'm assuming that the European Royal Families were not included in this study...

[FormerLib]

Gee, I always thought that is where dumbocraps and politicians came from.

Does anyone else need any more proof that all conservatives should oppose the lifting of such restrictions?

[FormerLib]

In some parts of Eastern Kentucky, it will be seen as welcome news, LOL!

Now if they'd only lift the restrictions on moonshine, we'd have one heck of an anthropological study in action!

[Biblebelter]

Thanks for the first hand report. Personally, I have never had the pleasure of visiting Darwin's playground.

[Clemenza]

If you see a family reunion as an opportunity to meet your future spouse, you might be from Arkansas!

[Clemenza]

I always wanted to visit Eastern Kentucky, because on a map you see what seem like thousands of little towns, but no big cities. Harlan County seems like a cheap place to live, though!

Is it really like an Appalachian Deliverence out there?

[Sabertooth]

"Stigma still attaches to these unions," says Robin Bennett, a genetics counselor at the University of Washington and the study's lead author.

"But there's no good social or biological reason that should be. There's a lot of misinformation out there that is really holding back some cousins who want to try to have children," Bennett says.

Ah, another hubrisian scientist, caught in blithering overreach.

Who'd have thunk it?

[bandlength]

am i to assume that the state bird is "wild turkey?"