Genetics and Race Mixing

Aiz had an interesting about mixed marriages....read it here. In typical mat salleh fashion, I ventured off topic when one responder Hafiz stated that

those ppl dunno the BENEFITS of inter-racial marriage or relationship. one of them, ur children will have a high IQ personality. correct me if im wrong

While I don't think you can quantify his statement, he may have a point. It got me thinking about the breeding of dogs. Certain dogs have built in deficiencies. Sharpeis have heart problems, Dachsund bad backs, Yorkshire Terriers have stomach problems, etc.

Over 300 genetic health defects have been documented in dogs, and in many purebreds, the incidence of defects is extremely high. Reasons for this include:

1. A limited and closed gene pool. Most breeds were built on relatively few founding dogs, so the same sets of genes have been reproduced over and over since the breed began. Registries such as the AKC require that all future offspring come from the mating of dogs registered with their club. This restriction eliminates the vast majority of other dogs that would otherwise be available for breeding.

   Without the introduction of new and unrelated genes, in the long term all living creatures suffer "loss of genetic diversity," which inevitably leads to weaker animals with health problems. This is happening right now with purebred dogs.

Why can't the same thing be true of people? So the next time you do a double take at a mixed couple, think about this---Maybe their kids will be smarter than yours!

Next Post: Dominant and Recessive Genes (who will have what)

Comments

[hafiz]

i think there's a recommendation by our Prophet (PBUH) saying that we should "extend" our generation by marrying someone that we know their family background very well. if the background is good, why not. and if the chosen one is from another race, culture and with a background that is good and totally different than yours, why not eh?

[Jamil]

Hafiz...

Two things.
1. Just another example of our beautiful religion and how progressive it really is (no matter what anyone says).
2. From my knowledge of the above recommendation, you could also read it to mean that if your son/daughter is marrying, you should get to know the family history/background very well. (correct me if i'm wrong)

The reason I bring #2 up is because a lot of people use things to confirm their own biased view. From the above, Melayus in the kampung could say "See, I don't know any family background of other races , therefore, my kids should marry their own kind."

[hafiz]

yeah, that's the beauty of Islam.

[Adam]

The bad effects of inbreeding is well documented. In agriculture the hybrids of different varieties show superior qualities, a phenomenon known as Hybrid vigour. However, in cse of humans, I guess the environment has a big role to play in shaping the individual. Even though they may have a higher IQ, if their surroundings are not condusive to seeking knowledge and working hard, all of it will go to waste.

[hasan]

AA bros and sisters:

A warning: well-meaning people like yourselves started conversations like this that led to the eugenics movements of earlier times. These conversations have been recently resurrected with gene therapies. There is a LONG list of readings on how good people made bad decisions. Remember that choosing your spouse on iman is the best of faith. Don't make genetics another superficial issue like wealth or social status that supersedes the purpose of marriage.

Hasan Shanawani
Duke Center for Genome Ethics Law and Policy
NC, USA

[LHM]

Semua Orang Malayu ada Hati Panas or so I have been told.

I do find it very difficult to engage in any sort of intellectual discourse or debate with many Malay people without them letting their emotions take hold.

I would prefer to think that the reasons are cultural and not genetic.