Hey, Diss, you know the Saudis have lots of real problems to deal with... Here's one. ;O
Saudi Arabia Awakes to the Perils of Inbreeding
By SARAH KERSHAW (NYT) 1256 words
Late Edition - Final , Section A , Page 3 , Column 1
ABSTRACT - Several serious genetic disorders are common in Saudia Arabia, where women have average of six children, and marriage between close relatives is common; Saudi government says rate of marriage among blood relatives, particularly in south of country, ranges from 55 to 70 percent, among highest rates in world; Saudi public health officials say this widespread inbreeding has produced several genetic disorders, some of them potentially fatal; one Saudi researcher has found links between inbreeding and deafness and muteness; Saudi health authorities have quietly debated what to do for decades; now, for first time, government has started nationwide campaign to inform related couples who intend to marry of risk of genetic disease; it plans to require mandatory blood tests before marriage and pre-marital counseling; tradition of marrying relatives is deeply embedded in Saudi culture, although among more educated Saudis it has become less common...