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ChatterBank0 min ago
Killers are born not made
On Panorama this week research has shown that killers have an extra gene that combined with other factors make them more likely to commit murder. The gene by itself it not wholly conclusive but needs bad a environmental situation to trigger the gene.
As this gene is present from birth a simple test could establish whether a baby could eventually turn out to be a killer.
With this in mind should a test be made on all infants to check for this gene and follow up procedures made?
As this gene is present from birth a simple test could establish whether a baby could eventually turn out to be a killer.
With this in mind should a test be made on all infants to check for this gene and follow up procedures made?
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This probably stems from the recent Horizon documentary entitled good or evil, broadcast on Monday night. The jist of the documentary was that psychopathy could be screened for, using a combination of DNA screening ( looking for the Monoamine oxidase A enzyme, expressed when the MoA gene is switched on), the lack of activity in the hypothalamus region of the brain ( as determined by a PET scan), and a personal history of a severely abusive childhood.
All these traits were exhibited, to a greater or lesser extent, by some of the more infamous serial killers of our time apparently. It is one thing to posit a hypothesis however, quite another to prove it - and as the programme itself pointed out, one of the main researchers into this area, a world renowned authority, himself had the MoA gene and the MRI brain scan pattern suggestive of being a psychopath. It is also true to say that some of the worlds leading lights have a similar combination.
So one cannot simply screen for the gene and then arbitrarily label individuals positive for MoA as probable psychopaths - It is, as ever, more complicated than that.
All these traits were exhibited, to a greater or lesser extent, by some of the more infamous serial killers of our time apparently. It is one thing to posit a hypothesis however, quite another to prove it - and as the programme itself pointed out, one of the main researchers into this area, a world renowned authority, himself had the MoA gene and the MRI brain scan pattern suggestive of being a psychopath. It is also true to say that some of the worlds leading lights have a similar combination.
So one cannot simply screen for the gene and then arbitrarily label individuals positive for MoA as probable psychopaths - It is, as ever, more complicated than that.
There is a great mytha about genes in the popular imagination.
People see them like a gene for blue eyes for example, if you have the gene you will have blue eyes.
Many genes aren't like that at all - cancer genes for example - just raise you probability of getting them.
You will almost certainly find almost all killers have this gene but so do millions of oher perfectly normal people
People see them like a gene for blue eyes for example, if you have the gene you will have blue eyes.
Many genes aren't like that at all - cancer genes for example - just raise you probability of getting them.
You will almost certainly find almost all killers have this gene but so do millions of oher perfectly normal people
