January 23, 2009
UNIT 1: Introducing BiologyCan You Tell A Bully By His Genes?
Do you know some people who react more aggressively than others when they are bothered by something? Recent studies have identified a gene that may lead people to be more aggressive. The real name of this gene is monoamine oxidase A gene, or MAOA. Everyone has the gene, but some people have a high-activity version and some people have a low-activity version. In research performed at the University of California-Santa Barbara, those with low-activity MAOA reacted more aggressively when provoked than those with high-activity MAOA.
This is not the first time that MAOA has been researched. In fact, earlier studies found that about one in three Americans have low-activity MAOA whereas higher percentages of people in historically-violent civilizations have low-activity MAOA. Some people have even taken to calling low-activity MAOA the “warrior gene” because it is found in high levels in warring cultures.
Does having a genetic predisposition to aggression make it okay for some people to be more aggressive than others? How could an understanding of aggressive tendencies and genetics affect laws, politics, and criminal punishment? Do you think it is fair for a boss to ask possible employees to be screened and then selectively hire people with one type of MAOA? These are some of the ethical questions that may arise about MAOA.