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The National Youth Survey Family Study is providing valuable
information about the relationship between genes, environment, and behavior.
Through DNA and data collection, researchers are able to look at how certain
behaviors (measured by the answers on interviews and questionnaires) are
related to certain environments (from questionnaires and interviews) and
genes (measured by the results of DNA analysis). Researchers are beginning
to look at specific genes and test whether or not they are related to
specific behaviors. In the following study, researchers looked at the
relationship between the MAOA gene, victimization in childhood, and violent
behavior in adulthood.
Researchers chose to look at the MAOA gene because it
is a gene responsible for regulating different chemicals in the human
body. These chemicals (such as dopamine and serotonin) have been shown
to increase aggressive behavior in mice and in humans. Prior research1
has also reported a connection between one form of the MAOA gene and violent
or antisocial behavior when combined with a severely adverse environment
in childhood.
Using data from the NYSFS, researchers found that individuals
with a history of violent behavior showed no difference in the MAOA gene
than individuals without a history of violence. In this study, the MAOA
gene was not found to have an influence on violent behavior. However,
researchers did find that the environment in childhood had a strong influence
on violent behavior in adulthood.
Individuals who were victims of violence in childhood
were more than 3 times as likely to participate in violent behavior as
adults than individuals who were not victims of childhood violence. Events
such as being robbed, assaulted, or beaten by a family member in childhood
greatly increased the probability of violent behavior in adulthood, including
arrest for a violent offense. In this study, an adverse environment in
childhood had a profound impact on violent behavior in adulthood.
Next, researchers will locate and test more candidate
genes (genes that they suspect may be involved) to see if they are related
to violent behavior. They have found one environmental influence on violent
behavior, and are looking for possible genetic influences. Because of
the wealth of data collected on the NYSFS, researchers are continuing
to discover new relationships between genes, environment and behaviors.
1. Caspi, A. McClay, J., Moffitt, T.,
Mill, J., Martin, J., Craig, I., Taylor, A., Poulton, R. Role of Genotype
in the Cycle of Violence in Maltreated Children Science. 2002 Aug 2;297(5582):851-4.
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