Alan Bittles

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The failure to account for significant social and cultural differences throws doubt on the study’s results. Shutterstock

Birth defect risk for children of first cousins is overstated

Alan Bittles, Murdoch University

Research about the impact of marriage between first cousins on rates of birth defects garnered much media attention when it was published late last week. Sadly, most of the coverage worked to alarm rather…
Some babies more at risk from genetic defects from first cousin marriages. Flickr/Tella Chhe

First cousin marriage doubles risk of birth defects in children

Jo Adetunji, The Conversation

Having a baby with a first cousin more than doubles the risk of congenital problems such as heart and lung defects, cleft palettes and extra fingers, according to the largest study of its kind in the UK…
American singer Jerry Lee Lewis famously married his cousin. flickr/dunechaser

Why not marry your cousin? Millions do

Alan Bittles, Murdoch University

The topic of consanguineous marriage raises both interest and unease in Western societies. For those who are wondering, that big word means “marrying your cousin”. But why would anyone want to marry a…

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