Restart Race Without Inbreeding

pablovian

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If the human race were 'almost' wiped on the face of the earth, how many humans would have to be left (assuming they were all in the same area) to procreate and recreate the human race without close relation inbreeding?

Any thoughts or scientific answers are appreciated.
 

chaosaysmu

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It partly depends on how closely related these people are to whomever they have children with. Numerous studies have shown that people as closely related as "first cousins" can reproduce with minimal risk (compared to unrelated couples). A system of careful monitoring would be necessary in all likelihood.

In truth, while inbreeding can result in very unpleasant birth defects, most of the factors working against it are societal and ethical. While reproduction between siblings or a parent and child are extremely unlikely to produce viable offspring, most of the risk is exaggerated. You have about as much risk with a cousin as you do with a random stranger (especially in some areas of the world, where a random stranger may BE your cousin!).

I'll see if I can find particular studies on this, but it may take a while.
 

jason_els

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Human population has dropped to about 2,000 people, all located in one place, and stayed that way for about 100,000 years until numbers began rising again.

We are all related to each other. Our Eve, the woman all humans can trace their ancestry to, lived about 140,000 years ago. Our Adam, oddly enough, was only about 80,000 years ago. So in strict terms, we really are all related to each other even if extremely distantly. What the magic number is for enough genetic diversity, I don't know.