consanguines

Consanguines are individuals who share a common ancestor, i.e., blood relatives. The term is used in genetics, medicine, anthropology, and law to describe kinship through blood rather than through marriage or adoption.

Etymology: The word consanguine derives from Latin consanguinei, meaning "of the same blood" (con- with + sanguis blood).

Degrees: Kinship by blood is often described in degrees. In many legal and genealogical systems, first-degree relatives are parents and children; second-degree relatives include siblings and grandparents or grandchildren; third-degree relatives include aunts, uncles, and nieces or nephews; fourth-degree can cover first cousins. Exact definitions vary by jurisdiction and tradition; in biology, consanguinity refers to overall genetic relatedness rather than legal status.

Genetic implications: Consanguinity increases the probability that offspring will inherit the same recessive allele from a shared ancestor, raising the risk of certain inherited disorders. The inbreeding coefficient (F) and the degree of relatedness are used to assess this risk. The effect is strongest in close relationships and decreases with increasing genetic distance.

Cultural and legal context: Many societies have norms or laws governing marriages among close kin. Some jurisdictions prohibit or restrict unions between close relatives, while others permit cousin marriages or other forms of consanguinity, often accompanied by medical or genetic counseling in high-risk cases.