Inbreeding... and a little incest - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Anguirel · 10-04-2006, 02:39 PM

Actually, I've heard (speaking as no kind of scientist) that eventually a lot of incest cancels out and pretty much stabilises. Hence Cleopatra not being a drooling idiot after ten generations of inbreeding sister-marrying Ptolemies.

Ptolemies=Dwarves? Do we have an allegory here, ladies and gentlemen?

Lalwendë · 10-04-2006, 03:31 PM

I've been reading a fair amount about the Amish this week (following the horrible events in Pennsylvania) and I noticed that there is apparently a very high incidence of genetic illness due to the small original gene pool and inbreeding as a result (further exacerbated by not admitting 'outsiders' into the community via marriage). This doesn't result in people who have learning disabilites, more that they have physical disabilities including dwarfism (which Im sure is not the PC term so I apologise), 'short legs' in comparison to the body and polydactylism (extra fingers and toes).

Though of course Tolkien's Dwarves are a race and so very different.

Maybe Tolkien just didn't include the women in that original figure of seven?

10-04-2006, 02:39 PM	#1
Anguirel Byronic Brand Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The 1590s Posts: 2,778	Actually, I've heard (speaking as no kind of scientist) that eventually a lot of incest cancels out and pretty much stabilises. Hence Cleopatra not being a drooling idiot after ten generations of inbreeding sister-marrying Ptolemies. Ptolemies=Dwarves? Do we have an allegory here, ladies and gentlemen? __________________ Among the friendly dead, being bad at games did not seem to matter -Il Lupo Fenriso

10-04-2006, 03:31 PM	#2
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	I've been reading a fair amount about the Amish this week (following the horrible events in Pennsylvania) and I noticed that there is apparently a very high incidence of genetic illness due to the small original gene pool and inbreeding as a result (further exacerbated by not admitting 'outsiders' into the community via marriage). This doesn't result in people who have learning disabilites, more that they have physical disabilities including dwarfism (which Im sure is not the PC term so I apologise), 'short legs' in comparison to the body and polydactylism (extra fingers and toes). Though of course Tolkien's Dwarves are a race and so very different. Maybe Tolkien just didn't include the women in that original figure of seven? __________________ Gordon's alive!