News, Brother and sister who had child together to get married... despite knowing incestuous wedding is illegal. (date, wife)

[MontanaGuy]

The whole issue is really about genetics. Animals in the wild instinctively know not to do this. The point that was raised about incest causing birth defects isn't some old wives tale, it's very true and unfortunately it could probably explain the appearance of certain trailer park residents here in the South.

[Ceece]

Well they already had an established relationship, and a child, before they realized that what was what so I don't see an upside to changing anything now. Nobody should be asked to ignore their feelings, separate a child from it's parents, etc. and there is really no need for them to do so expect that OTHER PEOPLE want them to.

[TKramar]

It is probably a good idea, from the genetic standpoint, for them not to have any more children together, but procreation is not the sole purpose of sex.

[Dude111]

Originally Posted by Mr.Cat

Their kids SHALL be born retarded or more nicely put; with birth deffects.

There is a chance thier babies were born OK...

If you go by the bible,WE ARE ALL RELATED,so incest is occuring EVERY DAY!!

[stepka]

Originally Posted by TKramar

It is probably a good idea, from the genetic standpoint, for them not to have any more children together, but procreation is not the sole purpose of sex.

Originally Posted by Dude111

There is a chance thier babies were born OK...

If you go by the bible,WE ARE ALL RELATED,so incest is occuring EVERY DAY!!

I suspect that these things happen more often than we know and never come to light. I always suspected that my mother and her sister left home and went far away to avoid the possibility of marrying a brother by accident b/c g-pa was such a womanizer. Also, in the part of the country mom is from, there are several illnesses that are bred into the population b/c everyone is related there and you're going to marry at least a cousin if you stay.

I dunno, I'd say it's part of the human condition though b/c before transportation, everyone was marrying cousins and the wealthy even more so b/c you had to marry someone on the same socioeconomic status as yourself and the only people good enough were family. In other words, I make no judgment on this couple--Lord knows they're doing better romantically than 90% of the rest of us.

[Dude111]

Ya your probably right about them happening MORE THAN WE ARE AWARE.....

[monumentus]

Originally Posted by Mr.Cat

Their kids SHALL be born retarded or more nicely put; with birth deffects.

Not necessarily. While the probabilities do increase somewhat, it is not as much as people think.

Originally Posted by MontanaGuy

The point that was raised about incest causing birth defects isn't some old wives tale, it's very true

Not as true as people think. Incest does not cause birth defects. It just increases the likelyhood that defects already carried by the parents will be expressed in the children.

This is because many defects are what is called "recessive" in the human genome. Many people have a recessive defective gene of this sort but their children are ok unless this gene meets another of the same type.

The probabilities that if you have it, that your chosen partner will also have it are relatively low. The probability that if you have it, that your sibling will also have it are relatively much higher.

If one or both of you do not have any such gene however, incest does not "cause" defects to happen.

[aragx6]

I'd hope they carefully weight the risks before having another child, but otherwise I see no reason they shouldn't spend their lives together if they so choose. It's not as though they grew up together -- I'm not sure I understand the "ick" factor.

[D. Scott]

Originally Posted by Dude111

There is a chance thier babies were born OK...

If you go by the bible,WE ARE ALL RELATED,so incest is occuring EVERY DAY!!

Ya Kidding me!?

That relationship is nuts, Ugh. There is NOTHING cool about this.

[MissNM]

Originally Posted by TKramar

It is probably a good idea, from the genetic standpoint, for them not to have any more children together, but procreation is not the sole purpose of sex.

I also find it funny that the marriage is illegal - is if you have to be married to have sex!