Criminal Behavior and Genetics

Can criminal behavior be blamed on certain genes or genetic make-up?

Well some scientists believe so. Up until just recently, no one has had any

way or incentive to explore the genetic side of criminal behavior. Now that scientists have the tools and curiosity to conduct experiments and do research on this topic, they found some interesting facts.

In the 1960 s scientists thought that almost all men with the XYY chromosome pattern were destined to be criminals. That hypothesis is partially true, but now scientists believe that a low level of serotonin, a by-product of the enzyme monoamine oxidase triggers violence and hostility. Serotonin acts as a controller for hostility and violence. Research shows that most people who commit a crime are very unlikely to commit another. However, habitual criminals are the ones who might possibly have criminal tendencies due to a possible mutation of the A-gene on the X chromosome for the enzyme monoamine oxidase A. The more severe or violent the crime a person commits, usually means they have a lower serotonin level than someone that commits a less severe or violent crime. Scientists have observed monkeys that have normal or lower levels of serotonin. The monkeys with the lower level of serotonin were either more violent or antisocial toward the other monkeys. Therefore, the theory that a low level of serotonin causes criminal behavior is the cause for a lot of the more violent acts of crime in our society today.

Works Cited

Elmer-DeWitt, Philip. Solving the Mysteries of Heredity . Time. Mar. 20, 1989.