Hello, I have been on the net looking at inherited illnesses and how devastating that they can be. In my family there is hemochromotosis, heart disease, thyroid problems and diabetes. I was wondering just how bad it may have become had my family stayed in Germany and continued to intermarry with the people of the village where they lived. How much more devastating would the above diseases have become if they had not migrated to Australia. I was also wondering about the children who had died before my ancestors went to Australia. Did these little babies suffer from some inherited disease? Perhaps they were untreatable in Germany and so they died. If they did have some inherited disease, then why did not more of the children born in Australia die? Perhaps it was because of the abundant fresh air, better living conditions and plentiful sunshine............. What are your thoughts? cheers, Beverly. Life on Earth is Expensive, but at least you get a free trip around the sun....... So wear a hat and enjoy the ride!