Does inbreeding lead to decreased human fertility?

AH Bittles; JC Grant; SG Sullivan; R Hussain

doi:10.1080/03014460110075657

Does inbreeding lead to decreased human fertility?

AH Bittles^*, JC Grant, SG Sullivan, R Hussain

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Literature review › peer-review

87 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In most Western countries there is a widespread belief, fostered in part by historical prejudice and religious proscription, that inbreeding in human populations causes a reduction in fertility. Support for this belief has been claimed in HLA-based studies, with increased rates of fetal losses suggested in HLA-compatible unions. To critically assess the overall status of fertility in consanguineous unions, data on 30 populations resident in six countries were collated from a systematic review of the literature. The mean numbers of live births were then compared in four consanguinity test categories, ranging from second cousin to uncle-niece/double first cousin, and corresponding non-consanguineous reference groups. Linear regressions indicated a positive association between consanguinity and fertility at all levels of inbreeding, attaining statistical significance at first cousin level (p

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	111-130
Number of pages	20
Journal	Annals of Human Biology
Volume	29
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/03014460110075657
Publication status	Published - 2002

Keywords

RECURRENT SPONTANEOUS-ABORTIONS
CONSANGUINEOUS MARRIAGE
PARENTAL CONSANGUINITY
ANDHRA-PRADESH
SOUTH-INDIA
REPRODUCTIVE COMPENSATION
CHILDHOOD MORTALITY
MUSLIM POPULATION
MATE SELECTION
HLA

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1080/03014460110075657

Cite this

@article{9f7097c2f6794d09a770772ae6c1ed89,

title = "Does inbreeding lead to decreased human fertility?",

abstract = "In most Western countries there is a widespread belief, fostered in part by historical prejudice and religious proscription, that inbreeding in human populations causes a reduction in fertility. Support for this belief has been claimed in HLA-based studies, with increased rates of fetal losses suggested in HLA-compatible unions. To critically assess the overall status of fertility in consanguineous unions, data on 30 populations resident in six countries were collated from a systematic review of the literature. The mean numbers of live births were then compared in four consanguinity test categories, ranging from second cousin to uncle-niece/double first cousin, and corresponding non-consanguineous reference groups. Linear regressions indicated a positive association between consanguinity and fertility at all levels of inbreeding, attaining statistical significance at first cousin level (p",

keywords = "RECURRENT SPONTANEOUS-ABORTIONS, CONSANGUINEOUS MARRIAGE, PARENTAL CONSANGUINITY, ANDHRA-PRADESH, SOUTH-INDIA, REPRODUCTIVE COMPENSATION, CHILDHOOD MORTALITY, MUSLIM POPULATION, MATE SELECTION, HLA",

author = "AH Bittles and JC Grant and SG Sullivan and R Hussain",

year = "2002",

doi = "10.1080/03014460110075657",

language = "English",

volume = "29",

pages = "111--130",

journal = "Annals of Human Biology",

issn = "0301-4460",