The Whitaker family story is one of the most disturbing and tragic tales of inbreeding in history. It is a cautionary tale, showing the devastating effects that can result from incestuous relationships.
The Whitakers were a family of farmers living in the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee. For generations, they had married within their own family, and by the early 1900s, they had become a closed community with a high degree of inbreeding. As a result, many of the Whitakers suffered from physical and mental disabilities, including mental retardation, blindness, and deafness.
Despite the obvious problems caused by inbreeding, the Whitakers continued to marry within their own family. This resulted in a further increase in the number of children born with disabilities. By the 1960s, the Whitaker family had become a national embarrassment, and the government was forced to intervene.
The Whitaker Family Inbred Story
A cautionary tale of inbreeding and its consequences.
- Isolated Appalachian family
- Generations of incestuous relationships
- High degree of inbreeding
- Physical and mental disabilities
- Government intervention
- National embarrassment
The Whitaker family story is a reminder of the importance of genetic diversity and the dangers of inbreeding.
Isolated Appalachian Family
The Whitaker family lived in the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee, a region known for its isolation and poverty. This isolation contributed to the family's high degree of inbreeding.
- Geographic isolation
The Appalachian Mountains are a rugged and mountainous region, which made travel and communication difficult in the past. This isolation led to the Whitakers having little contact with people outside of their own family.
- Cultural isolation
The Whitakers were also culturally isolated. They were a deeply religious family who believed that marrying outside of the family was a sin. This belief further contributed to their isolation and inbreeding.
- Economic isolation
The Whitakers were also economically isolated. They were poor farmers who lived in a remote area with few opportunities for work or education. This made it difficult for them to break out of their cycle of poverty and inbreeding.
- Social isolation
The Whitakers were also socially isolated. They were shunned by their neighbors, who saw them as strange and backward. This social isolation made it even more difficult for the Whitakers to break out of their cycle of inbreeding.
The isolation of the Whitaker family was a major factor in their high degree of inbreeding. This isolation prevented them from having contact with people outside of their own family, which led to a lack of genetic diversity and an increased risk of genetic disorders.