In clinical genetics, consanguinity is defined as a union between two individuals who are related as second cousins or closer, with the inbreeding coefficient (F) equal or higher than 0.0156.where (F) represents the proportion of genetic loci at which the child of a consanguineous couple might inherit identical gene ...

What causes consanguinity?

Consanguinity refers to when a couple are blood relatives (they share an ancestor). An example is a when a couple are first cousins. Consanguinity is quite common in many cultures. If a couple are consanguineous (related) their children have a higher chance of being affected by autosomal recessive genetic disorders.

Where is consanguinity most common?

Currently, couples related as second cousins or closer (F ≥ 0.0156) and their progeny account for an estimated 10.4% of the global population. The highest rates of consanguineous marriage occur in north and sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and west, central, and south Asia.