Is There a Genetic Variable that Affects How Violent Individuals Behave?
The Attempted Determination of the Aggression Gene
by Carolyn A. Skibinski
A large Dutch family, comprised of many male children, are prone to unprovoked,
violent outbursts: one male raped his sister and was subsequently placed
into a mental institution, only to attempt murder on a warden; another was
criticized by his employer, then attempted to run him over with a car; a
third male, who was an arsonist, forced his sister to undress at knifepoint
(1). Is there a genetic variable that affects how these, and other violent
individuals, behave? I will attempt to demonstrate why many scientists
believe that there is a genetic variable in individuals such as these.
Many scientists believe that a mutation exists on a certain gene that causes
aggressive behavior. At the University Hospital in Nijmegen, the aforementioned
Dutch family was examined. It had been found that there may be a mutation
in the gene encoding the enzyme Monoamine Oxidase (MAOA). This seemed significant
because the enzyme encoded by this particular gene helped to break down
several neurotransmitter substances that, if built up, could cause a person
to act excessively, if not violently. These substances are utilized during
the "fight-or-flight" response and could conceivably cause a problem,
prompting the individual to be "on guard" at all times. The affected
individuals in this family were all males, indicating the disorder was (perhaps)
carried on the X chromosome, and this has, in fact, been determined to be
true (2).
Another study conducted in Finland analyzed men who acted on impulse and
were unable to control their behavior. The researchers determined the men
possessed a neurotransmitter substance deficiency, particularly in the messenger
serotonin (3). A lack of the substance serotonin as well as nonadrenaline
have been linked to aggressive behavior: some violent prone individuals
did not effectively break down these substances (4).
A study at the Center for Neurobiology and Behavior at Columbia University
attempted to determine the behavior of mice lacking the 5-HT(1B) receptor,
a serotonin receptor. It was known that 5-HT(1) agonists which are called
serenics due to their anti-aggressive properties mimic this receptor-inactive
phenotype. Mutant mice were generated by homologous recombination in the
embryonic stem cells lacking both copies of the gene that encodes the 5-HT(1B)
receptor. Mutant mice and wild type mice were separately placed into a
situation with an intruder and the mutant mice attacked the intruder much
quicker and at a higher incidence than the wild type mice. Mutant mice
were more aggressive and more impulsive then the wild type, thus the 5-HT(1B)
receptors may be activated in response to environmental changes. In humans,
a homologous receptor of 5-HT(1B) is also a serotonin receptor. If an individual
had a reduced level of serotonin, the 5-HT(1B) receptors may not be thoroughly
utilized, resulting in the same phenotype as that of serenic mice (5).
In conclusion, many scientists postulate that there may be a genetic foundation
as to how violent people behave. This is demonstrated in the study of the
large Dutch family and the MAOA mutation, the Finland study of violent behavior
as related to serotonin deficiency, and the Columbia University study of
the 5-HT(1B) receptor and how this is applicable to humans. As controversial
as it may seem, individuals may eventually be able to use the genetic theory
of the aggression gene as a defense or as an excuse for behavior: this
is destined to have much significance in society.
References
1. The bad seed: amid controversy, scientists hunt for the "aggression"
gene. by Jeff Goldberg v17 Omni Feb '95 p16(1)
2. Evidence found for a possible "aggression" gene. by Virginia
Morell v260 Science June 18 '93 p1722(2)
3. Born to raise Hell? (genetic predispositions) (Column) by Dennis Overbye
v143 Time Feb 21 '94 p76(1)
4. The genetics of bad behavior. (research on the links between violence
and heredity) by Geoffrey Cowley v122 Newsweek Nov 1 '93 p57(1)
5. Enhanced aggressive behavior in mice lacking 5-HT(1B) receptor. (serotonin)
by Frederic Saudou, Djamel Ait Amara, Andree Dierich, Marianne LeMeur, Sylvie
Ramboz, Louis Segu, Marie-Christine Buhot and Rene Hen v265 Science Sept
23 '94 p1874 (4)