How (genetically) close is too close

Historically, inbreeding in royal families was common to preserve bloodlines and power, but at what cost? On this week’s episode, we discuss the biology of inbreeding and incest, how this impacts genetic diversity, and why it matters. Inbreeding also extends to the animal kingdom, where sheep and cows are selectively bred in the farming industry, to mice used in experiments with research, and even in pedigree dogs. TLDR: Inbreeding increases the odds of congenital defect and genetic diseases carried by recessive alleles Links: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-47907847 https://www.bbcearth.com/news/what-are-the-effects-of-inbreeding Socials: instagram.com/thelabdoctors twitter.com/thelabdoctors Credit for theme music: Fresh Time by Roa https://soundcloud.com/roa_music1031 Email: [email protected]