Carolyne, I have always found that fascinating that the Indian tribes banned it before anyone knew about genetics. As if they witnessed nature and had it figured out before anyone else! As if true to their roots, my lines may have left their tribe, but they did not marry within kinship. IT was banned, prohibited and we were always STRESSED that our cousins were to be loved, reveled but never to fall in love and NEVER marry or you know, heaven forbid, have sex with one. Also as true to the tribe, virginity until marriage was stressed in our family. Not like today's attitudes, is it, although I have tried to pass that down to my children, but it's out of my control to a degree when they leave with friends. You just hope they have had strong lessons and at least good morals to make decisions to balance the temptations and attitudes among their peers. Debbie ----- Original Message ----- From: "Carolyne Gould" <carolyne_cwy@yahoo.ca> To: <CherokeeGene-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2006 8:18 AM Subject: Re: [CherokeeGeneCommunity] first cousins marrying > Here's something I find interesting on this topic. My husband said > geneticists have found that when first cousins have children (or even > half-siblings), that if the relationship is through the father, there are > usually no problems healthwise with the kids. If the relationship is > through the mother, that is when problems usually occur. > > Our ancestors prohibited marriage within the same clan, which was always > determined by the mother --- not the father. Relationships with a father's > clan did not prohibit marriage. > > So, our ancestors had good sound reasons for the matrilineal prohibition, > long before the world had ever heard the word "gene". > > Carolyne > > > ==== CherokeeGene Mailing List ==== > This list is for Genealogy related conversations > Your supporting website http://www.wvi.com/~wb/Cherokee1.html > Please Good manors and no flaming others > For Culture, ridges; bumps; skin tones; or Language lessons Please visit > CHEROKEE-L-request@rootsweb.com > You can also find what you need search the archives > or to get off this list via web site below > http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Ethnic-Native/CherokeeGene.html > Listowner = CherokeeGene-admin@rootsweb.com > >