Disorders From Inbreeding
The risk of a child developing an autosomal recessive disorder increases with inbreeding. Carriers of a recessive disorder may be unaware they possess a mutated gene because two copies of a recessive allele are needed for gene expression. On the other hand, autosomal dominant disorders are seen in the parents but might be eliminated through inbreeding if the parents carry the normal gene. Examples of defects seen with inbreeding include:
Reduced fertility
Reduced birth rate
Higher infant and child mortality
Smaller adult size
Reduced immune function
Increased risk of cardiovascular disease
Increased facial asymmetry
Increased risk of genetic disorders
Examples of specific genetic disorders associated with inbreeding include schizophrenia, limb malformation, blindness, congenital heart disease, and neonatal diabetes.