 News
4th February 2007
Naughtiness could be in the genes
Scientists have discovered that disruptive and aggressive behaviour in
children is imprinted in their DNA.
The study, from the University of Virginia, contradicts
conventional beliefs that behaviour is related to the nature versus nurture
theory and says that some children would be naughty regardless of the
way they are brought up.
The study compared identical twins, with the same genetic
make-up, and non-identical twins, who share only half of the same genetic
make-up.
During the study, scientists looked at 2000 children from
1000 twins.
Researchers looked at what genes were passed on to children
and discovered that behaviour genes were passed on in much the same way
as those determining eye or hair colour.
This latest research backs up previous findings in recent
years.
Scientists from the National Institute of Health in Washington
identified at least four genes linked to criminal activity.
And in 2002, Professor Terrie Moffitt, from King’s College
London discovered that men with a mutation in a certain gene were predisposed
to be violent criminals.
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