yenlowang, I am just saying that from what I remember in my biology classes, the closer you are genetically related, the less variance there is in the gene pool, and the higher your chances of defects that could occur.

I remember that if you have a population of less than 10,000 of the same species, there will not be enough genetic diversification, and the population will eventually die out. Please correct my numbers if they are incorrect, since it has been a while since I took Genetics.

As for looking for a history of genetic defects, I don't really know of a case study for the general population, but there has been recorded historty of royal families inter-marrying. The old Royal household, I think the same line as Catherine the Great, had a history of hemophiliac that caused the death of their descendents. If you can look at a lot of the royal families in the past, you could probably have a case study of genetic defects.

Also, I was corrected by my friend the other day. In the US, in 31 states, it is legal to marry your first cousin. It is just not legal in my state. It is also socially unacceptable to marry your relatives from all the cultures that I know of.

Now, I just really need my Elfen Lied. *sigh* *enters withdrawal* [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/img] I am just happy that some groups are still subbing it. I wonder if Anime-fin could recruit a new encoder and be able to continue?