Scientists Discover 'Crime Gene'

Buggernut writes "Researchers from King's College in London have found that boys who have a particular version of a gene are much more likely to go off the rails if they suffer maltreatment when young." MAO breaks down a whole class of brain-affecting chemicals, and MAO inhibitors are commonly used to treat depression (but are known to produce mood swings and violence). So if you have a genetic predisposition to low levels of MAO, your resistance to various mood-altering chemicals is lowered. You ever get the feeling that we're tinkering with a hugely complex system and observing only one or two of the most pronounced effects?

Comments

Moral Delema

[MattCohn.com]

This brings up an interesting question...

If someone has this gene, and got in to trouble, are they responsible for their own actions? We have already kept mentaly retarded people from getting the death penalty, are these people next?

Sulfites & MAOs

[Anonymous Coward]

One very simple test for low MOA activity is to eat sulfites and if you get sick (up-chuck or develop migrane-like headache) then you may have low MAO activity that is inhibited by sulfites.

Warning: A very small percentage of the population has a life threatening allergic reaction to sulfites.

Sulfites are widely used to keep food from turning brown and are found in vineger, wines mushrooms, and other food that you know darn well should turn brown after they've been in you fridge for months.

You are what you eat.

BTW MAO inhibitors use to be used tp treat a number mental conditions. Depression being one, I think. It is little used these days because of the hash side effect on the body. MAO is located in the mitrocondria and breakdown a number of neural transmitters such as dopamine, serotonin and catacolamines such as adrenain. No wonder low activity put people on edge.