Genetics

• What genes are involved in crime ?

  Maoa - responsible for the reproduction of an enzyme

  • associated with aggression
  • regulates seratonin transmission in the brain
  • low levels related to impulsive + aggressive behaviour

  CDH13- gene involved in neural connectivity (dopamine + seeatonin)
• Who supported the diathesis stress model ?

  CaspI-

  followed 1000 people born in the 70’s age 26

  • 12% of men had low MAOA genes had also experienced maltreatment as a child accounted for 44% of violent convictions
• Evaluation ?

  1. Brunner
  2. tihonen
  3. christianson
• Brunner ?

  • analysed dna of 28 males of a Dutch family who had a history of violent + impulsive crimes and found all had a gene that led to low levels of MAOA gene
• TIHONEN ET AL ?

  • studies 900 prisoners + found that low levels of maoa + CDH13 were associated with violent crimes
• Christiansen ?

  • studies 87 mz twins and 147 dz twins
  • found a concordance rage of 33 mz 12 dz which suggests there may be a genetic component