General Chat

There are plenty of diseases with genetic origin which can occur. Cousins who have both inherited such genes are obviously at risk, but it is quite possible to marry a person who is not related to you who has a defective gene which you also have. Where marriage between different races/religions is prohibited, you are obviously choosing a partner from a smaller genetic pool. There are lots of genetic diseases amongst Jewish people which are relatively rare amongst gentiles. Many people have perfectly healthy genes and all their near blood relatives (including cousins) ditto. nell

surely it depends on how many heads they've got?

But surely thats how genetic problems start! from what Ive been told, Im not talking about one person marrying a cousin, but if its classed a norma land is repeated generation after generation, even if there arent any genetic problems eventually there could be.

hee, hee, Olde Crone.. hunters might be healthy - but what about the fishers in your lot??? LOL... Michael

Imagine having your Aunt and Uncle as parents in law - weird or what?

Marrying a first cousin can only lead to genetic problems if there is already a genetic problem...Nature cannot tell, and does not care, if you are related to each other, and does not, therefore 'punish' you for marrying a close relative. From my Family History research, one line of which goes back to 1179, my lot married close relatives over and over again, sometimes knowingly, and sometimes by chance (because they lived in the same area and moved in the same close social circle). I come from a very small gene pool indeed and I'm as healthy as a hunter! Olde Crone

A couple of people have mentioned Henry VIII changing the law to marry his cousin. Don't think that can be right the nearest cousin Henry married was a 3rd cousin once removed - Katherine Parr - although he did marry his brother's widow and was distant cousin to all his wives and two of his wives were first cousins lol

I thiught it was but having read through the thread it seems it isent but not really advisable, I surpose it depends on family health history, and as someone else said if its done generation after geaneration its asking for genetic problems.

It isn't Illegal. I saw something about it on TV not to long ago. 1 in 3 Children born to cousins have genetic disorders which is usually something to do with their skin.

One of my Primary School teachers married her cousin. They didn't have any kids incase of genetic problems. I think its acceptable if they don't have kids. It wouldn't be fair on the children if they had genetic problems.

Personnally I would not wish to marry ant of my first cousins as it feels insestues to me. Nor can I imagine marrying one of my parents cousins (have 2 younger than me) or their children. The cosest I've ever got was a crush on my second cousin once removeds first cousin (if that make sence). Lunar xXx -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No European country prohibits marriage between first cousins. It is also legal throughout Canada and Mexico to marry your cousin. The USA is the only western country with cousin marriage restrictions.

Peter http://www.weddingguide.*co.uk/articles/legal/prohibited.asp delete the * Bob

This happening every so often isn't a problem - but if it's every generation it's mutant time!

Hiya Roxanne My mums parents were 1st cousins, they married in 1939. Karen

My grandparents were cousins and went on to have 6 healthy children. Strangely enough though one son had no children and another son had two children who died at a few weeks old. The rest went on to have a few healthy children between them. Maggy

Thanks Bob. I as looking for that information a few months ago. Do you mind me asking, what was your source?

I can't stop giggling at this : In Scotland, a man may not marry his great-grandmother or great-granddaughter and a woman may not marry her great-grandfather or great-grandson. Like you'd be around long enough LOL My husbands Grandmother married her cousin Much happiness debi

Just so you know: Fobidden Degrees of Relationship Throughout the United Kingdom and the British Crown dependencies of Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man, the law forbids certain blood relatives, step-relatives and relatives-in-law from getting married. These restrictions are officially know as forbidden degrees of relationship. The prohibitions apply to illegitimate as well as legitimate relationships. There are exceptions relating to certain step-relatives and relatives-in-law, which are explained later in this article. A man may not marry his: • Mother (also step-mother, former step-mother, mother-in-law, former mother-in-law, adoptive mother or former adoptive mother) • Daughter (also step-daughter, former step-daughter, daughter-in-law, former daughter-in-law, adoptive daughter or former adoptive daughter) • Sister (also half-sister) • Father's mother (grandmother) • Mother's mother (grandmother) • Father's father's former wife (step-grandmother) • Mother's father's former wife (step-grandmother) • Son's daughter (granddaughter) • Daughter's daughter (granddaughter) • Wife's son's daughter (step-granddaughter) • Wife's daughter's daughter (step-granddaughter) • Son's son's wife (grandson's wife) • Daughter's son's wife (grandson's wife) • Father's sister (aunt) • Mother's sister (aunt) • Brother's daughter (niece) • Sister's daughter (niece) A woman may not marry her: • Father (also step-father, former step-father, father-in-law, former father-in-law, adoptive father or former adoptive father) • Son (also step-son, former step-son, son-in-law, former son-in-law, adoptive son or former adoptive son) • Brother (also half-brother or step-brother) • Father's father (grandfather) • Mother's father (grandfather) • Mother's mother's former husband (step-grandfather) • Father's mother's former husband (step-grandfather) • Son's son (grandson) • Daughter's son (grandson) • Husband's daughter's son (step grandson) • Husband's son's son (step grandson) • Son's daughter's husband (granddaughter's husband) • Daughter's daughter's husband (granddaughter's husband) • Father's brother (uncle) • Mother's brother (uncle) • Brother's son (nephew) • Sister's son (nephew) In Scotland, a man may not marry his great-grandmother or great-granddaughter and a woman may not marry her great-grandfather or great-grandson. Other Prohibitions You must both also be free to marry, that is, not already married and you must also be of different sex at birth. This applies even if one of you has undergone gender modification surgery. Exceptions for Certain Step-Relatives and Relatives-in-Law In England, Scotland and Wales (not Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey) the Marriage Act, 1986, allows for certain step-relatives and relatives-in-law to marry. Step-Relatives Step-relatives may marry provided they are at least 21 years of age. The younger of the couple must at no time before the age of 18 have lived in the same household as the older person. Neither must they have been treated as a child of the older person's family. Relatives-in-Law Although a man may marry his sister-in-law and a woman may marry her brother-in-law, other relatives-in-law may marry provided they are at least 21 years of age and the family members involved in creating the in-law relationship are both dead. For example, if a man wishes to marry his daughter-in-law, both his son and his son's mother must be dead. In England and Wales, marriages under this Act are not permitted with the calling of banns but can take place in a church on the authority of a superintendent registrar's certificate without licence. Marriage of Cousins Despite the long list of degrees of forbidden relationship, you can marry a cousin (courtesy of Henry VIII who changed the law to marry his cousin!). However, it would be sensible for you both to consult your GP to ensure that there are no factors in your family's health records that would make your decision to have children inadvisable on medical grounds.

You are allowed to marry them but who would want to?!! I don't think it's a good idea at all. I know why certain ethnic groups do so- to keep their money /control etc in their own family but if at each generation first cousins married there would NEVER be any new blood!! Jacquie

I have married first cousins in my family. They are Irish Catholics and married in Ireland in 1950.