How does inbreeding in humans cause birth defects?
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The more closely related people are, the more their genetic information is similar, including the bad information (mutations) that can be inherited.
Many genetic disorders require 2 bad copies of the gene in order to have the problem (recessive disorder). In a normal family (one that doesn’t marry cousins, or have the same male impregnate several generations of his own female descendants), the chances of having 2 bad pieces of information (mutated genes) at the same spot are slim.
Bleeding easily (hemophilia) is an example of a disease that has been passed by families marrying too closely (like European royalty). The bad genes are the only ones available to pass on.
Mental defects are also very common in inbred populations (any animal).
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