Alan Bittles, an expert on community genetics and a professor at two Australian universities, argued against the motion, saying that he believed some of the statistics presented were ‘spurious’.
He acknowledged there was an increased risk of birth defects in cousin marriages – but that the increase is small.
“Who is going to monitor this? Who is going to run this? Will we impose sanctions or take a stance against those who don’t want to agree to this? As a geneticist of 30 years standing, I am well aware of the difficulties that have been in the past as the result of the misuse of genetics.
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if there is ny genetics defect in a person u dont want ur cousin to pass over tht very defect to your children....
Alan Bittles, an expert on community genetics and a professor at two Australian universities, argued against the motion, saying that he believed some of the statistics presented were ‘spurious’.
He acknowledged there was an increased risk of birth defects in cousin marriages – but that the increase is small.
“Who is going to monitor this? Who is going to run this? Will we impose sanctions or take a stance against those who don’t want to agree to this? As a geneticist of 30 years standing, I am well aware of the difficulties that have been in the past as the result of the misuse of genetics.
....
if there is ny genetics defect in a person u dont want ur cousin to pass over tht very defect to your children....
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