Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
From the ancient Greeks and Egyptian pharaohs like Tutankhamun, to European royal families whose inbreeding shaped entire dynasties, humans have a long history of keeping marriage “in the family.” But why did attitudes shift so dramatically in the West? And what does modern genetic science actually tell us about the risks?
In this episode, we break down how shared DNA affects health, what autosomal dominant and recessive disorders are, and why children of first cousins face a higher risk of genetic conditions. We also explore why cultures across North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia continue longstanding traditions of cousin marriage—and how common those unions remain worldwide.
#inbreeding #inbreed #genetics #geneology #dna
Other Videos:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfac07dXQhkxBGekNRnpcrT_-KnLyGafy
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfac07dXQhkzgpRY9y3WA_eGu_fLAGngZ
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfac07dXQhkyJCHBX-sdmNz8yL-tikEzz
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfac07dXQhkxeF7u7KplAVIQbTKE3RIhX
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfac07dXQhkyjnTnLO0UhyGUi0EX5TOnh
Social Media:
► Website: iflscience.com
► Facebook: facebook.com/iflscience
► Instagram: instagram.com/iflscience
► Threads: threads.net/@iflscience
► TikTok: tiktok.com/@iflscience
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Read more:
iflscience.com/cousin-marriage-could-be-genetically-disastrous-for-offspring-here-s-why-67948
Credits:
Hosted by Eleanor Higgs
Produced and edited by Dominic Grose
Written by Maddy Chapman and Dominic Grose
Opening Title Sequence by Philip K Brayne & James Rodrigues
Additional media from Storyblocks, Shutterstock, Wikimedia Commons, Jebulon, Barrikader, Keepscases, Serg!o, TownDown, M.Bitton
Licences:
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Creative Commons Zero, Public Domain Dedication
From the ancient Greeks and Egyptian pharaohs like Tutankhamun, to European royal families whose inbreeding shaped entire dynasties, humans have a long history of keeping marriage “in the family.” But why did attitudes shift so dramatically in the West? And what does modern genetic science actually tell us about the risks?
In this episode, we break down how shared DNA affects health, what autosomal dominant and recessive disorders are, and why children of first cousins face a higher risk of genetic conditions. We also explore why cultures across North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia continue longstanding traditions of cousin marriage—and how common those unions remain worldwide.
#inbreeding #inbreed #genetics #geneology #dna
Other Videos:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfac07dXQhkxBGekNRnpcrT_-KnLyGafy
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfac07dXQhkzgpRY9y3WA_eGu_fLAGngZ
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfac07dXQhkyJCHBX-sdmNz8yL-tikEzz
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfac07dXQhkxeF7u7KplAVIQbTKE3RIhX
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfac07dXQhkyjnTnLO0UhyGUi0EX5TOnh
Social Media:
► Website: iflscience.com
► Facebook: facebook.com/iflscience
► Instagram: instagram.com/iflscience
► Threads: threads.net/@iflscience
► TikTok: tiktok.com/@iflscience
► Twitter: twitter.com/iflscience
► BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/iflscience.bsky.social
Read more:
iflscience.com/cousin-marriage-could-be-genetically-disastrous-for-offspring-here-s-why-67948
Credits:
Hosted by Eleanor Higgs
Produced and edited by Dominic Grose
Written by Maddy Chapman and Dominic Grose
Opening Title Sequence by Philip K Brayne & James Rodrigues
Additional media from Storyblocks, Shutterstock, Wikimedia Commons, Jebulon, Barrikader, Keepscases, Serg!o, TownDown, M.Bitton
Licences:
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Creative Commons Zero, Public Domain Dedication
