Consanguinity

Consanguinity refers to a special kind of relationship that may exist between two people who share the same genes or DNA. It means that they are related to each other by blood, and have inherited similar traits from their common ancestors.

Think of it like this: we all have a set of genes that we inherit from our parents. These genes are like tiny instructions that tell our bodies how to grow, develop and function. Now, let's say you have a cousin. Your cousin also has genes that they inherited from their parents.

Since your parents and your cousin's parents are siblings, you and your cousin share a certain percentage of the same genes. This is what we call consanguinity.

But consanguinity can also occur between other family members, such as siblings, aunts/uncles, grandparents, and even parents and children. People who are closely related have a higher chance of sharing not only physical characteristics, but also certain conditions that may be carried in their genes, such as genetic diseases.

So, in sum, consanguinity means that two people are related by blood and share similar genes or DNA. It is important to know about it because it can affect our health and the health of our offspring.