Genetics of criminality
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The onset of the 21st century brought new knowledge and advancement in science and technology. Modern studies are applied to almost any field including medicine, engineering, transportation and even human psychology. DNA research and genetic engineering explored a wide variety of human traits to look for possible pattern and prediction of their occurrence. One major study is focused on the criminal aspects of man and the way it was passed from generation to the next. Few years from now, the NBI may issue people an arrest warrant. Athough they have not committed any and law violation, they are considered criminals because of their genes reveals they are. The idea of
criminality gene that exists in some people ignited studies and researches in the hope that the world would be a terror-free place to live by the next centuries. Long before any scientific studies regarding the genetic nature of criminality, early people have the sane notion about the crime heredity. They brought conclusions and theories regarding the inheritance of human behavior from mere observation. As an evidence, we, Filipinos coined an expression that relates criminality to its root, “Kung anong puno ay siyang bunga.”
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[edit] The Benefit of Crime-Genetics Studies
Large percentage of the most violent crimes in any society is caused by only a small percent of male population. According to Lombroso, majority of the criminals are prisoner of their own biological inheritance. The modern science of criminal genetics would help reduce and prevent crime by a large percentage if there is appropriate treatment for a genetically criminal individual. Early recognition of these criminal possible people will make them available for further counseling and supervision before they commit any crime that may trigger their criminal career.
[edit] Early Theories on the Genetic Aspects of crime
Charles Davenport formulated the first theory regarding the genetic ties of crime and human psychology. His theory state that both criminality and violence are inherited like common physical characteristics that include skin color, hair type and facial structure (Kevles 46-47, 62). His observation was deducted from the observed criminality that ran through families during his time (Kaplan, 91). Unlike Davenport’s theory of observation and deductive reasons, Harpending and Draper presented a theory regarding the relationship between human sociology and anthropology to criminal acts. Harpending and Draper boldly explored the socio-biological origin of both violent and non-violent behavior. Their studies revealed two broad ways of strategy that human pursued. One of the two strategies they claim leads to anti-social behavior such as rape, dishonesty and theft. On the other hand, the second strategy or way leads to a happy and peaceful domestic life (Harpending quoted in Kaplan 92). The proof such theory is attributed to the traditional social setting where early human evolved. A hunter-gathering society provided an anti-social strategy through predatory competition for mate, territory and food. In contrast, the second way taken is backed by early agricultural societies and gardening enclaves where the farmer type male has more time with his family and children, and provisioning their farms and livestock. The two strategies described explain why killing is natural for criminals since it is a part of the culture of their ancestors.
[edit] The Theory of Atavism
As explained by the theory of atavism, human structure and genetic make-up contribute a large percentage of a criminal personhood (Lombroso 55). Criminality is inherited but violence is developed in the environment. The inherited “criminality” is the atavistic and primitive trait survived from the early human civilization such as savagery and competition. These atavistic and primitive traits, which can get into the modern world unchanged, contribute into the criminal being (Kaplan 91). It is their natural instinct to do crime without problem, but the modern law has been established that tagged their activity as a crime (Lombroso 56). The theory of atavism is based on genetics of Mendel, where criminality is possessed as a recessive gene. These recessive genes are manifested a few individual. Though a person may not show signs of criminality but do possess the gene, they can still pass the trait to their offspring (Lombroso quoted in Kaplan 91). The number of individual that possesses such recessive gene show some physical characteristics called “biological markers.” The Biological markers are physiques manifested by criminals as a sign of criminality (Kaplan 90). These certain physical traits enable the criminals to be distinguished from the normal human. Skulls of executed criminals have same symmetry and measure as that of primates and early hominids. Thus, it proved a direct correlation between primitive traits to criminality (Lombroso 60). Besides having similarity to ape’s skull, criminals also possess wide variety of physical and mental characteristics that discriminate them. Among these physical traits are developed jaw, projecting eye ridges, (same symptom as that of Down’s syndrome or mongolism) symmetric cranium, (skull) projecting ears, crooked nose, long arms, and long and narrow forehead (Kaplan 95). Among the mental behavior possessed by these possible criminals are insensitivity to pain, inability to blush and extreme love of adornment such as tattoos and body pierce. Though the possession of atavistic trait may lead to an over aggressive behavior many people who have the same disorder find legal ways to express their behavioral tendencies such as competitive sports, high risk activities and adventures, corporate lives and politics (Fishbein 56-57). This explains why introducing an ex-criminal to highly-competitive sports helps reduce aggressiveness and rehabilitate mental and physical wellness of the criminals.
[edit] Studies on Brain Enzymes and Hormones
One major cause for the display of abnormal mental and physical behavior is the monamine oxidase A deficiency (MAOA Syndrome) Oxidase are enzymes that is involved in the actual utilization of oxygen and the production of carbon dioxide in all bodily processes but most primarily in the normal functioning of the human brain. MAOA is a specific oxidase that is responsible for the production of serotonin, dopamine and non-adrenaline hormones (Kleiner 278). The hormone is all involved in the transmission of neuron signals between brain cells and nerve cells (Nora 195). In an MAOA deficiency, there is an abnormal metabolism of these brain enzymes (excess or deficient). The result of such problem is a variety of physical deformities and mental disorders. Mental symptoms of monamine oxidase deficiency are excessive aggression, suspicion and extreme jealousy. The MAOA deficiency served as another biological marker for the people with criminal gene to be identified as early as possible. The relation of genetics and enzyme problems is emphasized by the existence of a particular gene that calls for such inborn problem. English physician Archibald Garrod, through his study of alkaptonuria, defined the presence of specific gene responsible for the mutation of polypeptide chain (protein-acid chain). The destruction of these polypeptide chain leads to functional deficiency of an enzyme in several ways. Mutated polypeptide chain gene can be passed from parent to children as a recessive trait. Thus, only a small number of human populations have an “inborn error” in enzyme (Nora, 191-192). Such problem in enzyme error would later result to an abnormal production of oxidase enzyme which is the primary factor for the display of criminal behaviors.
[edit] Male Criminality and Genetics
The presence of Y-chromosome in male is the reason behind why males commit more crimes. The Y-chromosome or “angry hormone” carries different band of trait that the females” X-chromosome; this includes aggressiveness and extreme sexual drive. The main purpose of these Y-chromosome in transmission of criminal traits relies on the fact that Y-chromosome alone carries genetic code for “inborn metabolic errors” (Copeland 108). The presence of extra Y-chromosome in sexually dysjunctioned male like the XYY and XYYY pattern resulted in retarded IQ and extremely aggressive behavior. Majority of XYY males are commonly involved in crimes. Though the XYY male have same physical type as that of normal XY male, they still possess certain characteristics comparable to the one with MAOA deficiency (Hamer and Copeland 108-110)
[edit] Genetics and Society
The criminality inherited by some people is described as the way they respond to they environment (Fishbein 107). The “bad genes” cultivated in “good environment” is less prone to develop criminal careers. The true problem lies when a person with genetic problem for criminality is grown in a helpless condition, such people will surly develop anti-social tendency as they grow old (Kaplan 98-99). Social factors such as poverty and illiteracy aren’t enough to explain why a person develops a criminal tendency. It is their brain and genetic malfunction that made them vulnerable to the temptation in their environment. Modern science of genetics provided knowledge about the existence of criminality gene and how it controls the brain and personality of an individual which lead to their rebellious and aggressive behavior. Genetics also link human to its past in explanation of existence of some primitive traits that still exist in modern people. Because of these advances it is not impossible that the world may one day, a 100 percent peaceful place to live upon addressing the criminality gene in people.
[edit] References
Copeland and Hamer David. Living With Our Genes: Why They Matter More Than You Think. New York: Doubleday, 1998.
Fishbein, Diana H. Behavioral Perspectives in Criminology. Belmont California: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning Center, 2001.
Kaplan, Jonathan Michael. The Limits and Lies of Human Genetic Research: Dangers for Social Policy. New York: Routledge, 2000.
Kevles, D.J. In the Name of Eugenics: Genetics and the Uses of Human Heredity. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1985.
Kleiner, Israel Simon. Human Biochemistry. New York: Routledge, 1990
Lombroso, Cesare. The Criminal Man. Boston: Little Brown, 1918.
Nora, James J. Medical Genetics: Principles and Practice. Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger, 1993.
Mpnistal 10:38, 20 March 2007 (UTC)
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