From: Charles Hixson (charleshixsn@earthlink.net)
Date: Mon Aug 05 2002 - 11:58:40 MDT
Robert J. Bradbury wrote:
>Well we knew it was likely to happen sooner or later.
>
>It looks like a genetic variation that results in low
>levels of monoamine oxidase A, which is involved in
>cleaning up excess neurotransmitters (Anders could
>probably tell us which ones), correlates well with
>aggressive and criminal behaviors.
>
>See:
>Gene May Protect Abused Kids Against Behavior Problems
>http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/08/020805075625.htm
>
>Robert
>
>
>
I wonder what else it's linked to, though. Criminal behavior is also linked to having both thumbs, after all. If a particular allele is correlated with a behavior that promotes survival, one would expect it to rapidly become the most common variant, unless there were some large cost involved in carrying it. (Of course, sometimes one would just find an allele during the period when it was increasing in prevalence.)
Or, perhaps criminal behavior isn't contra survival? Certainly some top executives (once) at Enron must have found that it paid quite well.
-- -- Charles Hixson Gnu software that is free, The best is yet to be.
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