Traditional family life dying out

[david51058]

With traditional family life dying out and couples constantly splitting up and women having children to various men, the instances of unintentional inter-breeding are bound to increase with the result of more genetic inherited diseases.

[jackthehat]

Not necessarily................

[starone]

By the way they all seem to scatter to the four corners of the earth I think it is highly unlikely.

[rowanwitch]

still less of a risk than within cultures where 'cousin marriages' are relatively common or isolated communities

[mightywease]

Says who!

I would imagine that even in families that have split most would know they have half-siblings even if they maybe don't see them. Family life is not dying out it is just that family dynamics may be different.

[pretty_snowdrop]

It was commonplace among the 'upper classes in to 18 century. Women in arranged marriages having affairs left right and centre and the husband named as the father of any off spring. Interbreeding was rife!

[karenmac60]

Actually, my friend has 2 kids with her ex - but she later discovered he had fathered at least another 4 while they were together (all within the local area) but she doesn't know who they are. she moved away from the area - partly to get away from the ex but also to stop her daughters possibly ending up going out with a half sibling.

[Old_Geezer]

There was always a risk wrt affairs. For more formal splits and new partners I suspect the question of who are your parents would be broached before any decision to have offspring.

[McMouse]

One hesitates to mention Norfolk, but............