Polygamy : a community of Mormons suffering from a rare disease

eric1513/epictura

Published the 03.08.2017 at 12: 36

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A rare genetic disease hits a community mormon the Arizona, in the United States. An investigation by the BBC reported that several children born in the 90s within this group, installed at Short Creek, all have the same pathology. It is manifested by mental deficiency, a deformity of the face (prominent forehead, ears low, eyes wide apart, small jaw) and an inability to speak and walk.

It is an american physician who has made the connection between the different cases, reports the channel. In the 1990s, Theodore Tarby diagnosed as a small boy aciduria catalysis of fumaric, childhood disease rare that science has identified that thirteen cases until then.

Defective genes

The doctor discovers that the sister of the child is suffering from the same disease, and soon that eight cases of this condition very rare are grouped together at Short Creek. It is found that in this community, the practice of polygamy is widespread, says the BBC.

However, for the aciduria catalysis of fumaric develops, it is necessary that the child inherits defective genes from both parents. A situation that is more likely to occur in a community which practices polygamy in a vacuum, thus favouring inbreeding.

A practice condemned by the Church

Quoted by the BBC, Faith Bistline, a former member of the community, reports that five of her cousins would be affected. “They are completely disabled, physically and mentally,” she explained. The oldest has learned to walk at the age of two years, but he was not able to continue this learning because of severe attacks of convulsions. Today 30 years of age, he is unable to crawl. All have to feed through tubes.

Several tens of thousands of Mormons living today in the west in the United States in polygamous communities, despite the prohibition of this practice by the mormon Church officially in 1890.