Experts have expressed concern over the sharp increase in genetic disorders in the country due to the high rate of cousin marriages, The News reported on Wednesday.
Cousin marriages in Pakistan account for more than 65% of the total marriages in the country with the number even rising to 85% in some communities.
Speaking at the Switzerland-Pakistan Workshop on ‘Genetic Disorder and Residual Disorder’ at Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), experts warned that Pakistan ranks among the nations with the highest rate of consanguineous marriages in the world.
The workshop, held at Dow International Medical College’s Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan Auditorium on Tuesday, brought together experts from Pakistan and Switzerland to discuss the impact of genetic mutations caused by cousin marriages.
Speaking on the occasion, DUHS Vice-Chancellor Prof Muhammad Saeed Quraishy said cultural, social and economic factors are driving this trend, which, while having some biological benefits, significantly increases the risk of recessive and dominant genetic disorders in children.
It also revealed that genetic diseases such as thalassemia, microcephaly and other hereditary conditions prevail in families with repeated consanguinity.
“The alarming rate of cousin marriages in Pakistan calls for urgent genetic research and health interventions,” the vice-chancellor observed.
Meanwhile, expressing his views, the guest of honor of the workshop Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman emphasized the importance of scientific development in combating genetic diseases.
He observed that despite economic challenges, Pakistan continues to make progress in biological and genetic research.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Stylianos Antonarakis from the University of Geneva shared that approximately 2,980 genes associated with residual diseases have been identified, while an estimated 8,000 to 9,000 remain unknown.
He explained that genomic variability can drive evolution, but it also imposes the burden of genetic disorders, especially in populations with high rates of cousin marriage.
Furthermore, highlighting the high prevalence of genetic disorders in the country, including a 6% carrier frequency of thalassemia and one of the highest rates of microcephaly in the world, Dr Ambreen Fatima of the Aga Khan University criticized the limited focus on genetic disorders in the healthcare system, the which is shocked. due to infectious diseases and malnutrition.
a href=”https://www.geo.tv/latest/576536-experts-concerned-over-surge-in-genetic-disorders-amid-high-cousin-marriages-rate”>Source link
