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

Your Honor,

[eyepeepackets]

"I plead guilty to being a vicious serial spammer and occasional pud pounder because my genes make me do it and my mommy once spanked me for torturing the neighbor's pussy, er, cat and if you give me a break I know you'll always fondly remember that you didn't pass up on this really, really fabulous chance to win the cheapest insurance for your cheap Asian porn adventures in hot, steamy Borneo, courtesy of the owners of your new timeshare in Florida, where you can get cheap airline tickets to anywhere in the world and while there thank yourself for doing justice today. Thank you, your honor!"

Judge: *pound* Five million and five years!