Marrying first cousins is perfectly legal in most countries. A one off marriage between first cousins isn’t usually a problem though with about the same incidence of birth defects amongst offspring as those between non-related couples. However, when it is when it is done generation after generation, genetic weaknesses start to show and as it progresses down the generations, inbreeding becomes a serious problem. A culture that allows cousin marriage is OK, a culture that virtually compels cousin marriage is inviting serious health problems....
I didn’t do a count but it looks as if at least half the states allow first cousin marriage:
http://marriage.about.com/cs/marriagelicenses/a/cousin.htm
I didn’t do a count but it looks as if at least half the states allow first cousin marriage:
http://marriage.about.com/cs/marriagelicenses/a/cousin.htm