Genetic Mutation Linked to Impulsive Violence

[history_geek]

I was sure I saw something about this already, but since I couldn't find anything, I'll start a new thread about it

The discovery of a genetic mutation that can contribute to impulsive and motiveless violence, especially among men under the influence of alcohol, was making headlines Thursday.

Research with violent criminals in Finnish prisons has revealed that they are three times more likely to carry an abnormal variant of the HTR2B gene than ordinary people, suggesting that it can make people more susceptible to bouts of sudden aggression.

The findings offer insights into the inherited factors behind a propensity to spontaneous violence, though the mutation is not a gene “for” such behavior and many other genetic and environmental triggers are involved, according to experts cited by The (London) Times.

The HTR2B mutation, known as Q20*, is found only in Finns, so it cannot explain impulsive violence in countries such as the US, Britain or Australia. About one in a hundred Finns carries the variant, and most of those are not aggressive or dangerous and have never been convicted of a crime.

http://www.livescience.com/health/gene- ... 01222.html

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/he ... 5975314977

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpps/news/genet ... c_11186001

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/ ... fight.html


So, I really don't have anything to add to this, but I just thought that some of you might find this interesting...

[terranus]

Research with violent criminals in Finnish prisons has revealed that they are three times more likely to carry an abnormal variant of the HTR2B gene than ordinary people, suggesting that it can make people more susceptible to bouts of sudden aggression.

[sarcasm]
OOOOoo goodie!! I feel a witch hunt coming on!!  :verysad:

Still, perhaps the Finns will implement some type of "minority report" system and arrest all these DaNgErOuS people anyway!  
[/sarcasm]

[history_geek]

Research with violent criminals in Finnish prisons has revealed that they are three times more likely to carry an abnormal variant of the HTR2B gene than ordinary people, suggesting that it can make people more susceptible to bouts of sudden aggression.

[sarcasm]
OOOOoo goodie!! I feel a witch hunt coming on!!  :verysad:

Still, perhaps the Finns will implement some type of "minority report" system and arrest all these DaNgErOuS people anyway!  :bananacolor: We love our knife wielding maniacs. Where do you think we got our entertaiment from before tv? Set up a wedding/party/random encounter on the village road, kick back and enjoy while drinking some koskenkorva. :pop: