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Let’s dive into one of history’s most fascinating yet troubling phenomena. You know how we’re all carrying around various genes from our ancestors? Usually, this genetic lottery works out fine – except when close relatives have children together. That’s when things can get complicated, fast.
Here’s something you might not know: carrying a recessive gene isn’t necessarily bad news. The real challenge comes when two people carrying the same recessive gene have children together. Scientists call the resulting genetic similarity “homozygosity” – think of it as getting too many copies of the same genetic code.
But why did people do this? Well, it’s complicated. Sometimes communities were just too isolated to find partners elsewhere. In other cases, particularly among royalty, families were obsessed with keeping their power and wealth “in the family.” And occasionally, it stemmed from more disturbing situations involving abuse or extreme social restrictions.
Tutankhamun
You’ve probably seen King Tut’s magnificent golden death mask, but the reality behind it tells a different story. When scientists examined his mummy using CT scans in 2010, they found a young man who’d faced serious health challenges. We’re talking about a clubbed foot, scoliosis, and a cleft palate – and that’s just the start.
What’s particularly interesting is that Tut’s parents were siblings, a common practice among Egyptian royalty. He followed tradition by marrying his own sister, but their attempts to have children ended tragically with two miscarried fetuses found in his tomb. He died at just 19, leaving us to wonder what might have been different if his family tree had more branches.