Lähisukulaisparittelu

Lähisukulaisparittelu, also known as incestuous mating or consanguinity, refers to the mating between closely related individuals. This can occur in both natural populations and in controlled breeding programs. In biological contexts, the degree of relatedness is typically measured by genetic proximity, such as parent-offspring, full siblings, or half-siblings.

The primary biological consequence of inbreeding is an increase in homozygosity, meaning that offspring are more likely to inherit two identical copies of a gene from their parents. This can lead to a phenomenon known as inbreeding depression, where the expression of deleterious recessive alleles becomes more frequent. These alleles, which might have remained hidden in heterozygous individuals, can manifest as reduced fitness, decreased fertility, increased susceptibility to diseases, and developmental abnormalities in homozygous individuals.

In conservation biology, managing inbreeding is crucial for the survival of small or isolated populations. High levels of inbreeding can threaten the long-term viability of endangered species by reducing genetic diversity and increasing the prevalence of harmful traits. Conversely, in animal husbandry and plant breeding, controlled inbreeding is sometimes used to fix desirable traits and create more uniform lines, though it requires careful management to avoid the negative effects of inbreeding depression. Ethical and social considerations surrounding incestuous relationships are distinct from the biological concept and are primarily governed by societal norms and laws.