An evening debate organised by the Progress Educational Trust (PET), supported by Clifford Chance and the Wellcome Trust.

Over a billion people worldwide live in regions where 20-50% of marriages are consanguineous, and first-cousin unions are especially popular. Discussion of this phenomenon is confused by the fact that its causes are social and economic, while its outcomes tend to be measured in terms of child health. International variations in infant mortality, and varying genetic factors within given communities, make it difficult to attribute health problems to cousin marriages with any degree of accuracy. But this hasn't prevented government minister Phil Woolas from arguing that cousin marriages among immigrants are contributing to a surge of birth defects in the UK.

Is cousin marriage a legitimate cause for concern? If not, then why does it attract so much attention? If so, then what should be done about it?

Speakers

• Alan Bittles
  Director of the Centre for Human Genetics and Foundation Professor of Human Biology at Edith Cowan University's School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Sciences

• Dr Aamra Darr
  Senior Research Fellow at the University of Bradford's School of Health Studies

• Dr Mohamed Walji
  General Practitioner at the Balsall Heath Health Centre

Chair

• Professor Marcus Pembrey
  Founding Chair of Trustees at PET and Emeritus Professor of Paediatric Genetics at University College London's Institute of Child Health

Partners and supporters

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