A report states
that a genetic analysis of almost 900 offenders in Finland has revealed two
genes associated with violent crime. Those with the genes were 13 times more
likely to have a history of repeated violent behavior. The authors of the
study, published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, said at least 5-10% of
all violent crime in Finland could be attributed to individuals with these
genotypes. But they stressed the genes could not be used to screen criminals.
Many more genes may be involved in violent behavior and environmental factors
are also known to have a fundamental role. Even if an individual has a "high-risk
combination" of these genes the majority will never commit a crime, the
lead author of the work Jari Tiihonen of the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden
said. "Committing a severe, violent crime is extremely rare in the general
population. So even though the relative risk would be increased, the absolute
risk is very low," he told the BBC.
Each criminal was
given a profile based on their offences, categorising them into violent or
non-violent. The association between genes and previous behavior was strongest
for the 78 who fitted the "extremely violent offender" profile. This
group had committed a total of 1,154 murders, manslaughters, attempted
homicides or batteries. A replication group of 114 criminals had all committed
at least one murder. Are criminals born
with a ‘murder gene’ - Scientists
identify cause of violent behavior.
Another article in
MailOnline states that violent thugs aren’t criminalised by society, but may be
born that way. Researchers have claimed
that some people may be born with genes that makes them inherently violent. If
true it would indicate some are simply born to be violent, rather than being
criminalised by society.
The scientists
identified two genes that may be associated with extremely violent behavior. One of them is a variant of cadherin 13
(CDH13), which is involved in neural connectivity, and has been linked to
impulse control in extremely violent offenders.
Previous studies have linked certain genes to violent crime, including a
gene called monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) that contributes to less recycling of
the neurotransmitter, dopamine. Dopamine is a chemical released by nerve cells
to send signals to other nerve cells. It plays a major role in reward-motivated
behaviour.The researchers found a possible link between violent offences and
MAOA, with the strongest association in the extremely violent offending group.
Jonathan Kellerman is an American psychologist, and Edgar and
Anthony Award-winning author of numerous bestselling suspense novels. His
writings on psychology (and specifically psychopathology) include Savage Spawn:
Reflections on Violent Children. Most of his fictional stories feature the
character of Alex Delaware, a child psychologist who consults for the police,
assisted in his investigations by LAPD detective Milo Sturgis.
The Conspiracy Club
of Jonathan Kellerman has the hero Jeremy Carrier, a psychologist, undergoing different stress – of his
passionate romance with nurse Jocelyn Banks
cut short by her kidnapping and brutal murder, young psychologist. Added trouble is that of brutal murders of
some streetwalkers and others and Investigators becoming eye-wary on him as a
prime suspect in the slaying. To escape
the pain, he buries himself in his work at City Central Hospital --- only to be
drawn deeper into a waking nightmare when more women turn up murdered in the
same gruesome fashion as Jocelyn. As the suspicion surrounding Jeremy
intensifies, the only way for him to prove his innocence and put his torment to
rest is to follow the deadly trail of a modern-day Jack the Ripper. The storyline bluntly talks of ‘violence in
the genes’ of some and those being ready to assault and hurt others.
With regards – S.
Sampthkumar
21st Jan 2015.
