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From: mayville@tybalt.caltech.edu.Caltech.Edu@cit-vax.Caltech.Edu (Kevin J. Mayville)
Newsgroups: net.singles,net.med,net.bio
Subject: Re: If sodomy, why not incest?
Message-ID: <832@cit-vax.Caltech.Edu>
Date: Sat, 26-Jul-86 12:30:28 EDT
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Posted: Sat Jul 26 12:30:28 1986
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>>              There are certain genetic considerations between MOTOS
>>incest, but other than that, I don't consider it my place to dictate
>>what people can and can't do.
>
>I've heard this reasoning many times, but never any proof or evidence
>for it. How is this any different, genetically, from the situation in
>herds, or other animal living groups, where the dominant male mates with
>*all* the females in the group, be they related or not? 
>
>---
>Eric J Sadoyama 2033 Haste St #107 Berkeley CA 94704 USA (415)548-1711
>or (on break):   942 Hoomoana St Pearl City HI 96782 USA (808)455-4276
>sadoyama@pavepaws.berkeley.edu or {backbone}!ucbvax!pavepaws!sadoyama

There is really no difference, genetically, between these two sitautions.
In most cases, incest produces no problems (genetically, that is) in
offspring at all.  However, suppose the dominant male has a very rare,
very deadly, recessive gene.  If he mates with another, random cow, there
is an astronomically small chance of a double recessive occurring.  Now,
however, assume he mates with one of his female offspring.  Approximately
half of them will also be carriers of this gene.  Out of every four young
resulting from this union, two will be carriers of this deadly gene, and
one will be a double recessive, and will be stillborn, or possess whatever
nasty trait this gene causes (perhaps hemophilia, if the dominant male
is of European Royalty).  You can see the devastating results for the gene
pool if this dominant male mates with his grandchildren.  The main 
objections against incest are, of course, inspired by other people's
concepts of morality, but the genetic considerations are somewhat valid.
Hope this clears up some confusion.

Kevin Mayville