consanguinity
Pronunciation: kon-san-GWIN-ih-tee
Blood relationship between individuals, particularly relevant in reproductive genetics when assessing increased risk of autosomal recessive disorders in offspring.
Full Definition
Consanguinity refers to the genetic relationship between individuals who share one or more common ancestors, most commonly seen in cousin marriages or unions between other blood relatives. In reproductive genetics, consanguineous relationships are significant because they increase the probability that offspring will inherit identical copies of rare recessive alleles, leading to autosomal recessive genetic disorders. The degree of consanguinity is measured by the coefficient of inbreeding, with first cousin marriages having a coefficient of 1/16.
Usage
Usage note: Adjective form is 'consanguineous'; avoid using as a verb.
In Context
- "The family history revealed consanguinity between the parents, increasing the risk of recessive disorders." — Genetic counseling notes
- "Consanguinity was noted in the pedigree analysis, prompting expanded carrier screening." — Clinical assessment