Just to be well and truly fuckin clear. I am not now nor have I ever been nor will I ever be contemplating shagging a family member.

  • Deestan@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    Human genes only really “work as intended” when they are combined from very different sets.

    So-called “recessive” genes are overruled by your partner’s different pile of genes. They are usually shit traits like soggy bones or hair growing backwards, but since they never dominate, they haven’t been naturally selected away. They’re just harmless baggage.

    You can still get them because it’s all random, but the likelihood is generally low.

    If you don’t have that difference in mating genes, more of these recessive genes get to have a say in building the human. This severely increases the likelihood of birth defects.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inbreeding

    Fun fact: This is one of the reasons why - when we start colonies on the Moon or Mars or wherever - it’s important that we send a fuck ton of people.

    • where_am_i@sh.itjust.works
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      9 months ago

      Ok, but why are recessive genes necessarily bad?

      Or, they probably aren’t, but it turns out when you activate them you get more bads than the goods. Why is that?

      • Deestan@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        Good question!

        They aren’t necessarily bad as such, just “random and unfiltered”.

        Dominant genes get “battle tested” all the time, by definition. The harmful ones are likely to result in a human that can’t survive or have children, while the good ones remain.