NEWS
Genetic link to cycle of violence identified
Study adds fuel to debate about behavior genetics
By Ronald Kotulak

Published August 2, 2002

A gene that may help explain why some children exposed to violence, neglect and abuse become violent adults while others growing up in the same type of environment do not has been identified by University of Wisconsin scientists.

The findings, reported Thursday in the journal Science, provide new evidence that genetic and environmental factors can interact to influence human behavior...

...Children who grow up in homes that are psychologically, physically or sexually abusive were found to have a ninefold increased risk of becoming anti-social as adults if they had a low-performing version of the MAOA gene rather than a normal version...

...Moffitt and Avshalom Caspi of Wisconsin, along with several international researchers, found that of the 442 males in the study, 154 had been maltreated, 33 severely so...

...The researchers found that although the maltreated boys who also had low-performing MAOA genes made up only 12 percent of the subjects, they accounted for 44 percent of the convictions for violent crimes.

Copyright 2002, Chicago Tribune

© Speak Out Terms of use