WTF DNA Pt II: Good Breeding

According to Wikipedia: "Inbreeding is the reproduction from the mating of two genetically related parents, which can increase the chances of offspring being affected by recessive or deleterious traits. This generally leads to a decreased fitness of a population, which is called inbreeding depression." Ouch.

Good breeding has its benefits. Because nobles traditionally married their cousins, kinsmen were eventually placed on all of Europe's thrones. High intelligence, artistry, physical virtuosity, and other expressions of excellence were heightened. Yes, musical virtuosity runs in families.

But then again, the Royals also spawned the likes of Mad King George. "Insanity" was rather common among the aristocracy. Hence, the lovely expression, "black sheep."

[LEFT: "Mad" King George III of England: Wikicommons]

The gentry (families who owned sufficient land to generate income) generally aped the aristocracy, and married (locally) among their "Own Kind." Because of the limited gene pool, gentle folk also experienced "genetic irregularities."

Nuts
Some mentally challenged offspring were said to be "imbeciles," or possessed by "demons," but most were merely rebels or geniuses (for good or bad). What's the difference between a lunatic, a fool, a heretic, a visionary, a traitor, a champion, and/or a saint? PUNCHLINE: The audience or community of said individual.

[RIGHT: Galileo facing the Roman Inquisition, painting by Cristiano Banti: Wikicommons]

Galileo, for example, was both a genius (to scientists, philosophers--the rationalist/enlightened vanguard) as well as a heretic (Roman Catholic Church & their adherents). Galileo was also a fool to many because he naively believed he could Tell the Truth, given his dark time and place. But such recklessness also made him a Champion. Eventually, even the Roman church, which is never, officially, wrong, acknowledged Galileo was right. And it only took the papacy 500 or so years to come clean.