Marriage between close relatives should be avoided because it induces more:

Options

A. Recessive alleles to come together
B. Mutations
C. Multiple births
D. Blood group abnormalities

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Question**: The question asks why marriages between close relatives should be avoided. The focus is on the genetic implications of such unions.

2. **Recessive Alleles**: When close relatives marry, there is a higher chance that both parents carry the same recessive alleles. Recessive alleles can lead to genetic disorders if an offspring inherits the same recessive allele from both parents.

3. **Genetic Disorders**: Many genetic disorders are caused by recessive alleles. For example, conditions like cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, and certain forms of mental retardation can occur if both parents pass on the same recessive allele to their child.

4. **Increased Risk**: The risk of having offspring with genetic disorders increases significantly when parents share a closer genetic relationship. This is because the genetic diversity is reduced, leading to a higher probability that harmful recessive traits will manifest.

5. **Other Factors**: While the question mentions other factors like mutations, multiple births, and blood group abnormalities, these are less significant compared to the risk of recessive genetic disorders. Mutations are random changes in DNA and do not necessarily increase in frequency with close relative marriages.

6. **Conclusion**: Therefore, the primary reason to avoid marriages between close relatives is to reduce the risk of recessive alleles coming together, which can lead to genetic disorders in their offspring.

**Final Answer**: Marriage between close relatives should be avoided because it induces more recessive alleles to come together, increasing the risk of genetic disorders in offspring.

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