Detecting thugs gene

Men who possess the 'warrior gene' prefer to use weapons and tend to join bad gangs.

An assassin was arrested in Mexico.Photo: Reuters.

Many previous studies have shown that human violence is controlled by certain genes (or gene groups). Those who own the gene tend to use more violence when provoked. However, scientists have not found what they call "warrior genes."

When more than 2,500 adults in the United States participated in a health survey earlier this year, criminologist Kevin M. Beaver of the University of Florida (USA) and his colleagues decided to use DNA and lifestyle data. to determine the "warrior gene". The team found that people who love violence have a variant of MAOA.

'Crime gangs are often thought of as a social phenomenon, but our research shows that the MAOA variant plays an important role,' said Kevin M. Beaver , a criminal at Florida University (USA). ), declare.

In 2006, MAOA (also known as low-activity 3-repeat allele) became the subject of controversy in the scientific world when some psychologists claimed it appeared to be quite popular in Maori in New Zealand. (Maori are originally native people of this country).

MAOA gene increases or decreases the concentration of many neurotransmitters (such as dopamine and serotonin) related to mood and behavior. Those who own MAOA gene variants tend to prefer violence and can transmit those variants to the next generation.

Scientists agree that genes are linked to aggressive behavior. In fact, aggression is a basic emotional state of people. Like cooperative behavior, it is also part of the nature of humanity so it has been passed down for generations.

Professor Craig Kennedy, Vanderbilt University's special psychologist and child psychologist, said most mammals exhibit aggressiveness in some way. A study that Kennedy made last year demonstrated that violence is one of the things that passionate people like sex, drugs and food.