How does consanguinity affect genetic diseases

Consanguinity, or the practice of marrying within close blood relatives, can have significant impacts on genetic diseases. Here are some points to consider regarding this connection:

• Increased likelihood: Consanguineous unions increase the chances of inherited genetic diseases in offspring. Blood relatives are more likely to share the same recessive genetic traits and mutations, which can lead to an increased risk of inherited disorders.
• Recessive genetic diseases: Consanguinity increases the risk for recessive genetic diseases, which require two copies of a faulty gene to be present for the disease to manifest. The probability of both parents carrying the same faulty gene increases in consanguineous relationships.
• Higher prevalence: Communities or regions with a tradition of consanguineous marriages have a higher prevalence of certain genetic diseases. This is particularly true for rare genetic disorders that result from the inheritance of specific recessive mutations.
• Increased severity: Consanguinity can intensify the severity of genetic diseases in offspring. This is because certain diseases may have different variants of the same faulty gene, and the likelihood of inheriting identical variants is higher in consanguineous relationships.
• Reduced genetic diversity: Consanguinity reduces the genetic diversity within a population, which can limit the pool of healthy genes available and increase the prevalence of genetic disorders.

It is important to note that while consanguinity increases the risk of genetic diseases, not all children born from such relationships will have health issues. Genetic counseling and testing can be valuable tools in assessing the risks and providing informed guidance to individuals considering consanguineous unions.