: In the 19th-century U.S., a shift began as medical and religious authorities began associating cousin marriage with "idiocy" and genetic defects. This led to many states enacting bans that remain today; 30 states currently prohibit first-cousin marriage.
: Children of unrelated parents have a 3% risk of congenital defects. Kissin' Cousins
The "kissing cousin" trope is a staple in storytelling, often used for comedic or dramatic effect. : In the 19th-century U