Polygamy fueling Ariz.’s rate of genetic disorder

[rpannier]

COLORADO CITY, Ariz. - In a dusty neighborhood under sheer sandstone cliffs studded with juniper on the Arizona-Utah border, a rare genetic disorder is spreading through polygamous families on a wave of inbreeding.

The twin border communities of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz., have the world’s highest known prevalence of fumarase deficiency, an enzyme irregularity that causes severe mental retardation brought on by cousin marriage, doctors say.

“Arizona has about half the world’s population of known fumarase deficiency patients,” said Dr. Theodore Tarby, a pediatric neurologist who has treated many of the children at Arizona clinics under contracts with the state.

snip

Doctors in the area declined requests for interviews and families refuse to talk to reporters. But former FLDS members, independent doctors and authorities say the disorder appears to have struck at least 20 children in the past 15 years.

“The disease itself is very rare in the rest of the world,” said Dr. Vinodh Narayanan of Arizona’s St. Joseph’s Hospital & Medical Center and Barrow Neurological Institute. Doctors worldwide had only studied about 10 cases just a decade ago.

link:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19232005/?GT1=10056

[panzerfaust]

1. By their fruits

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Big Matt 7:20

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. This implies that the polygamists are

a very small group that they would have cousin marriages. Are the elders of these groups encouraging cousin marriage? I believe they tend to arrange the marriages.

[blondeatlast]

3. It's almost impossible to avoid it. In a "town" of roughly 1000 people

where the men have many wives (often up to 7) how can it be avoided?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. So there aren't other groups

where new spouses can come from? They are indeed a very small group--and if they keep intermarrying, they are likely to create children with even more problems.

[blondeatlast]

5. The young women want OUT (for that matter, so do the young men).

Jana Bommersbach (a local reporter) has covered Arizona City for years and has written some must-read stuff. Here's a great article:

http://www.janabommersbach.com/pm-fea-may04.htm

Lots more where that came from.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

7. Wow

I can't believe that nothing has been done. But then the local KKK sends out hate mail under the name of "XXXX Ministries", so I guess I shouldn't be surprised that pedophiles are hiding behind religion as well.

[nealmhughes]

6. Just like Victoria married Albert -- her mom his dad were brother and sister.

Queen Mary and King George V were rather more distantly related, but both direct descendents of George III. At least the current Queen opted to marry into the Glucksburgs, but Prince Phillip's father's family were related to Queen Alexandra, the Queen's great-grandmother. Good thing that George VI opted for some new Scottish blood, as did Charles with solid English blood to get rid of the German-Danish cousin blood. . .

[Mend]

8. I know finding a mate is tough, but have these folks tried match.com?

Surely that is better than marrying grandma's niece. One day soon, they will all be 2 feet tall with one eyeball and breathe through gills.

[StarryNite]

9. The women and girls are just

property. Brood mares, if you will. As the boys grow up many of them are driven off by the older men. It is a dirty, disgusting situation.