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YashonGenHumBeh

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Chapter 1

YashonGenHumBeh

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© © All Rights Reserved
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Genetics and Human Behavior

Genetics and Human Behavior


Ronnee Yashon and Michael R. Cummings

MOMENTUM PRESS, LLC, NEW YORK


Genetics and Human Behavior

Copyright © Momentum Press, LLC, 2020.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,


stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any
means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other
except for brief quotations, not to exceed 400 words, without the prior
permission of the publisher.

First published in 2020 by


Momentum Press, LLC
222 East 46th Street, New York, NY 10017
www.momentumpress.net

ISBN-13: 978-1-94664-648-4 (paperback)


ISBN-13: 978-1-94664-649-1 (e-book)

Momentum Press Human Genetics and Society C


­ ollection

Cover and interior design by Exeter Premedia Services Private Ltd.,


Chennai, India

First edition: 2020

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Printed in the United States of America.


Abstract
This book will look at behavior in a different way. Have you heard of the
phrase nature is nurture? Simply, it asks what influences our behavior?
This has been a debated topic since early man. Nature is usually defined as
what is given to us before we are born, specifically, in this book, genetics.
Nurture means learning that we acquire from our environment (parents,
friends, and other influences). In this book, we will look at the newest sci-
entific work, how both genetics and environment effect how we behave.
Our court system is slowly changing, as science rears its head in the area
of criminal law, everyday life, public opinion, and politics.

Keywords
behavior; central nervous system; brain; peripheral nervous system;
neurotransmitters; chromosomes; synapse; twin studies; monozygotic;
heterozygotic; twin studies; epigenetics; acetylcholine; dopamine; norepi-
nephrine; serotonin; endorphin; single gene defect
Contents
Preface��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ix

Chapter 1 Behavior���������������������������������������������������������������������������1
Chapter 2 Physiology 1���������������������������������������������������������������������3
Chapter 3 Physiology 2���������������������������������������������������������������������7
Chapter 4 Neurotransmitters������������������������������������������������������������9
Chapter 5 How Might Genetics Change Behavior?�������������������������13
Chapter 6 Does Any Single Gene Defect (Mutation) Cause
Aggressiveness?���������������������������������������������������������������17
Chapter 7 How Do We Study the Effects of Genetics on Behavior?���21
Chapter 8 Twin Studies�������������������������������������������������������������������25
Chapter 9 Legal and Ethical Questions�������������������������������������������29
Chapter 10 Famous or Infamous Cases���������������������������������������������33

Bibliography�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������37
About the Authors���������������������������������������������������������������������������������39
Index���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������41
Preface
This book will look at behavior in a different way. Have you heard of the
phrase nature versus nurture? Simply, it asks what influences our behavior?
This has been a debated topic since early man. Nature is usually defined as
what is given to us before we are born, specifically, in this book, genetics.
Nurture means learning that, is acquired from our environment (parents,
friends, and other influences). In Addition, we will look at the newest sci-
entific work, how both genetics and environment effect how we behave.
Our court system is slowly changing, as science rears its head in the area
of criminal law, everyday life, public opinion, and politics (Table P.1).

Table P.1  Are these nature and nurture? Or both?


Right or left handedness? Even though this is known A number of years ago,
to be genetic, it can be teachers were told not to
changed by training. allow lefties to use their
dominant hand.
Violent personality? Brain chemicals and hor- A tie-in to violence has
mones control this. influenced by brain chem-
ical.
Athletic prowess? Certain traits (height, mus- Can someone short be a
cularity) can be enhanced great basketball player?
by drugs and other stimu-
lants.
Color blindness? Nature Always genetic or cannot be
cured or changed, except for
contact lenses.
Sleepwalking? No Usually triggered by stress.
Intelligence? There are theories Robert Clark Graham began
(eugenics). a sperm bank he called the
Repository for germinal
choice, also known as genius
sperm bank.
CHAPTER 1

Behavior
Simply, behavior can be defined as a reaction to a stimulus; this sounds
pretty silly, because if we look at one stimulus, it can have many reactions
among many people. The stimulus might be a loud sound or a compli-
cated thought.
Scientists studied the behavior of animals and wondered why they
do certain actions. One of the early animal behaviorists (Pavlov) studied
what dogs can learn. Since then, animal behavior is still studied, but with
an eye to comparing it with humans.
If you watch an animal (say a dog), you will see it learns new behaviors
if rewarded (usually with food). But then, so do humans; advertising is
an example.
Lets do a small experiment. A few years ago, a very famous actress said
she would like to see Orangutans in the wild.
First they took her to an area where baby orangutans were brought
when their mothers were killed.
These babies were so very cute, they climbed all over her and she
laughed and laughed even when one peed on her.
After, she said she would like to see a grown male.
Because the males live a solitary life, she sat on the road waiting. All
the photographers hid.
He came out on the road (see figure 1.1) and moved toward her. She
stayed perfectly still as he moved toward her. He reached out his hand and
touched her (she was calm), then hugged her!
The photographers ran out to pull him off her but she was calm, and
so was she. What was the reason for the hug?
2 Genetics and Human Behavior

Does animal behavior predict what behavior humans might have?

The answer is probably. So, why are we testing on animals first?


Because we do not want to test on people, possibly because of any
number of consequences, such as: side effects, lawsuits, mistakes, bad
publicity, and of course, loss of revenue.
But, if you look at animals versus humans in drug testing, you can
see how dangerous it can be for drug companies to skip the animal trial if
something would go wrong when humans are using it.
Note: Why this is important in courts:
As humans, we feel in control of our actions, so if we lose control, we
might feel angry, guilty, sorry, or happy.
Index
acetylcholine, v, 10 genetic testing cases, 18–19
amazon, 23 genetics
assisted reproduction, 21 legal and ethical questions, 29–32
autonomic reflex, 3 legal cases, 33–36
twin studies in, 25–27
behavior global warming, 29–30
defined, 1 glutamate, 10
genetic conditions causing changes
in, 13–16 heterozygotic twins (two different egg
genetic effects on, 21–23 and sperm fuse), 25
nature versus nurture, ix, 1 hormones, 11–12
Born Together—Reared Apart (Segal), sex, 15
26 human brain. See brain
brain
areas of, 5 Identical Strangers (documentary), 23
functions, 3–4 identical twins, 22
damage, 8, 13 intelligence quotient (IQ), 21, 25

central nervous system (CNS), 7 Jim twins, The (Springer and Lewis), 26
The Chicago Tribune, 18
chromosomal aberration, 13 legal and ethical questions in genetics,
29–32
DNA, 13, 16, 22, 23 Lewis, Jim, 26
dopamine, v, 10
drug testing, animal versus human
in, 2 Mobley v Georgia, 18–19
monoamine oxidase A (MAOA)
deficiency, 17–19
endorphin, v monozygotic (identical) twins, 25
epigenetics, 23–24 mutation, 17–19
estrogen (female), 11–12
neurotransmitters, 9–11, 17
fertility doctors, 21, 22 effects of release of, 10
fraternal twins, 22 norepinephrine, v, 10

gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), peripheral nervous system (PNS), 7


10
genetic conditions reflex arc, 4
behavior changes and, 13–16 reflex(es)
sex hormones and, 15 autonomic, 3
theories about, 15 other, 3
XYY and, 16 somatic, 3
42 Index

Segal, Nancy L., 26 twin studies, 25–27


serotonin, v, 10 types of, 25
sex hormones, 15
single gene defect, 17–19 X chromosome, 15, 17
somatic reflex, 3 XYY, 15–16
Springer, Jim, 26
synapse, 4, 9, 11, 17 Y chromosome, 15

testosterone (male), 11–12, 15 Zika virus, 27

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