MP blames inbreeding for diabetes

[S.Down]

I wasn't sure if i should post this in the humour forum or what, anyways its worth a read.

A Labour MP has said inbreeding may be partly to blame for a rise in diabetes cases in his constituency in Norwich.
Inter-family relationships could have led to a sharing of a gene linked to the condition, former science lecturer Dr Ian Gibson told BBC Radio Norfolk.

"There may be some degree of familiarity, family relationships, in terms of brothers and other families with the same name and so on," he said.

But a consultant at a local hospital said the remarks were "disgraceful".

"It's an insult to people with type-1 diabetes and their families and it's an insult to people in Norfolk," said Dr Ketan Dhatariya, a diabetologist at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

"There's no suggestion that that is the case. It's not the way that genetics works," he told the Eastern Daily Press newspaper.

"There is a genetic element, but it may be triggered by an environmental factor. Nobody knows why it is rising."

More...http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4781693.stm

If you look at the head on him, you just might be convinced that he's got a point.

[jady88]

HA that is rather disturbing, did he specify why Norfolk would have such a high rate of incestual relationships? Seems to me that that is the far more pressing issue.

[St Disibod]

Actually, this in an issue that deserves a fair bit of discussion. Adolescent sniggering and cries of racism are stifling an important debate.

For instance, it is estimated that 55% of British Pakistanis are married to a first cousin. Juxtapose this fact with another, that British Pakistanis are 13 times more likely to have children with a genetic disorder.* One can quickly see that connecting dots, or at least advocating such a consideration, is not rash.

While Norfolk does not seem to have a burgeoning Pakistani community- the UK's National Statistics site leaves a lot to be desired, our own CSO puts it in the ha'penny place- that should not blunten the substance of Dr Ian Gibson's charge.

He might be wrong, but I would be slow to rubbish him until more study is done on the matter.

*- Source: BBC Newsnight

[georgedillon]

I know that Asian communities in Britain exhibit high rates of diabetes. I had assumed diet was a key factor. Things like dahl, chutnies, korma etc. are very high fat and/or sugar.
GD

[Ponzi]

N.F.N

Normal for Norfolk.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_for_Norfolk

[morryah]

Adolescent sniggering ......and cries of racism .... 55% of British Pakistanis are married to a first cousin. .....connecting dots...

Hmm. Maybe if they were hindu this would work.

[KingKane]

Actually, there was an effort recently in somewhere in the midlands Birmingham I think, to promote marriage to people outside the extended family. Extended family being first/second cousins, it had something to do with a genetic condition which occurs at ten times the rate in the Pakistani community.

[EvotingMachine0197]

Consanguinity and endogamy (two new words for me, thanks Mr. Googlie) occurs in 15% of worlds regions at a rate of 20 to 50%. See Here Also in Ireland apparently.