Exploring the impact of MAOA and CDH13 on belligerent offenders
Do warrior genes encourage violence?
The genes popularly called warrior genes are consist of a specific alteration in the X chromosome which is responsible for generating Monoamine oxidase A. Monoamine oxidase A is an enzyme which impacts on chemical messengers.
MAOA earned its reputation as a gene that encouraged violent and distasteful dispositions when an extended family in Holland were investigated for their offensive nature of nefarious ferocity. Following this investigation, MAOA became widely acclaimed as a ferocious gene and earned its reputation as the warrior gene after a publication was circulated.
A current investigation was carried out on prisoners in Finland who had been involved in numerous ferocious wrongdoings revealed the presence of MOA-L which is a metamorphosed form of a gene known as CDH13. Interestingly, prisoners who were convicted for unaggressive offences seemed to be lacking CDH13.
Traditionally, CDH13 has been associated with a variety of psychological defects like maniac and depression, ADD, autistic deeds and so on. However, the role of CDH13 is to facilitate the transmission of information amongst cells and has only recently been connected with aggressive and ferocious offences.
The interplay between heredity and environmental factors and how this impacts in aggressive disposition
While scientific investigators in Finland are convinced that there are conclusive, it must be asserted that the antecedents of this line of inquiry have not been particularly satisfying (The scientific attempt to uncover genetic factors that trigger aggressive criminality). If it can be verified beyond every reasonable doubt that heredity plays a role in aggressive offences, it also stands to reason that there are other contributory factors that cannot be eliminated.
Former investigations show that environmental influences often collaborate with genes into creating hostile viciousness such as MAOA. It has been identified that individuals who experience ferocious and vicious developmental years often have the MAOA-L gene form while exhibiting aggressive disposition as grownups. Furthermore, it has been investigated and proven that males who were exposed to mistreatment and cruelty as kids often had the MAOA-L gene form and exhibited considerable more fierce disposition when compared with males with elevated amounts of MAOA.
However, investigators in Finland maintain that cruelty during formative years doesn’t influence the possibility of having a violent disposition in any way. Nonetheless, Finish investigators argue that inebriation and use of medication for ADD are factors that can shape the outcome of a violent disposition. They found a correlation between most aggressive offences and inebriation. It was also uncovered that liquor act together with MAOA-L in a way that facilitates thoughtless hostility. Their argument is such that ferocious prisoners should be offered compulsory medications such as disulfiram that lowers the impact of liquor and other stimulants.
It must be stated that being mistreated as a child and stimulants are not the only factors that affect aggressive disposition. Elevated testosterone is one factor that combines very well with aggression to produce a very belligerent way of life. Similarly, males that are inclines towards accomplishment, excessive ambition, can also be susceptible to aggressive conduct.
Considering facts on behavioural genetics
MAOA-L offers a significant case that could be the most insightful and a fantastic beginning point. Various investigations on MAOA effects have accumulated. Irrespective of the faults of various findings, it’s evident that the genes mentioned above are closely linked with aggressive disposition.
It is important to note the number of individuals with MAOA is significantly represented by a whopping 40% of individuals. Therefore, we begin to consider the fact that a very small fraction of this percentage actually engages in nefarious and aggressive deeds. Considering the facts mentioned above, we start to wonder what factors are responsible for converting MAOA into MAOA-L. However, we realise from the results of all the investigations that it is unnecessary for us to investigate these genes. The other area of inquiry is the suggestion to avoid aggressively reprehensible conduct by preventing ex-convicts from consuming liquor and stimulants.
When implemented on a broad scale, we conclude that ex-convicts without MAOA-L should not be inebriated either. From our investigations, we can state conclusively that liquor and other stimulants provoke recklessness and nefarious actions. With an abundance of rulings that discipline nefarious acts that are related to substances, it can be asserted that existing legal systems and societal expectations play a role in addressing the situation.
Source: Genetic Literacy Project