So here is what I gather about clans in the story of Naruto:
1. Everyone in the clan is related, meaning they are basically one giant family unit. This is proven by the fact that individuals within the clan marry others of the same clan, thus creating relationships much closer than that of a typical cousin to cousin relationship (ie sharing more than 12.5% of the same DNA). Sasuke's parents were both full blooded Uchiha, for example.
2. Being more closely related than cousins, clans would inevitably be subject to mutations in DNA. Obviously such abnormalities such as KKG, including eye techniques, could be explained this way. Perhaps to keep said KKG, a certain minimum requirement of shared DNA is required.
Assuming most members of the clan share blood relations greater than cousins, how would such a clan exist over a thousand years? How would a family so tight nit even be conceivable? If Indra, for instance, started the Uchiha clan, than how else could those Uchiha stay pure blooded without marrying those related to them?
Conclusion? There is only one logical way I can rationalize the idea of clans in the manga. That being, at some point in time, offspring of Indra began interbreeding. For example, Indra has several children. Indra might be the grandfather of 20 or so individuals. Those 20 marry individuals of separate origins. These 20 couples form what will become the Uchiha clan. Their offspring's DNA is not purely that of Indra, but their offspring are considered 100% uchiha. At a later point in time, someone marries outside the clan, thus creating a clan offshoot. An example of this would be Senju and Uzumaki. If Senju were created similarly to what I outlined above, once a pure Senju breed with someone outside the clan, they might begin what would become the Uzumaki clan, separate from the Senju but related to some of its members.
So what do you think? Do you believe clan members are this closely related? Do you believe extensive interbreeding became common place? This would not be unlike the royal families of old. Obviously Ashura and Indra's descendents are the most important, but this could apply to all clans in Naruto. Give me your thoughts on the matter and thanks for reading as always.
1. Everyone in the clan is related, meaning they are basically one giant family unit. This is proven by the fact that individuals within the clan marry others of the same clan, thus creating relationships much closer than that of a typical cousin to cousin relationship (ie sharing more than 12.5% of the same DNA). Sasuke's parents were both full blooded Uchiha, for example.
2. Being more closely related than cousins, clans would inevitably be subject to mutations in DNA. Obviously such abnormalities such as KKG, including eye techniques, could be explained this way. Perhaps to keep said KKG, a certain minimum requirement of shared DNA is required.
Assuming most members of the clan share blood relations greater than cousins, how would such a clan exist over a thousand years? How would a family so tight nit even be conceivable? If Indra, for instance, started the Uchiha clan, than how else could those Uchiha stay pure blooded without marrying those related to them?
Conclusion? There is only one logical way I can rationalize the idea of clans in the manga. That being, at some point in time, offspring of Indra began interbreeding. For example, Indra has several children. Indra might be the grandfather of 20 or so individuals. Those 20 marry individuals of separate origins. These 20 couples form what will become the Uchiha clan. Their offspring's DNA is not purely that of Indra, but their offspring are considered 100% uchiha. At a later point in time, someone marries outside the clan, thus creating a clan offshoot. An example of this would be Senju and Uzumaki. If Senju were created similarly to what I outlined above, once a pure Senju breed with someone outside the clan, they might begin what would become the Uzumaki clan, separate from the Senju but related to some of its members.
So what do you think? Do you believe clan members are this closely related? Do you believe extensive interbreeding became common place? This would not be unlike the royal families of old. Obviously Ashura and Indra's descendents are the most important, but this could apply to all clans in Naruto. Give me your thoughts on the matter and thanks for reading as always.