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Role of genotype in the cycle of violence in maltreated children Caspi, Avshalom; McClay, Joseph; Moffitt, Terrie E.; Mill, Jonathan; Martin, Judy; Craig, Ian W.; Taylor, Alan; Poulton, Richie

By: Contributor(s): Material type: ArticleArticlePublication details: Washington, DC American Association for the Advancement of Science 2002ISSN:
  • 0036-8075
Subject(s): In: Science 297(5582) August 2002 : 851-854Summary: This paper presents the results of a study to determine why some children who are maltreated grow up to develop antisocial behaviour, whereas others do not. The study used data from a large sample of male children in Dunedin (New Zealand) from birth to adulthood. The study found that a functional polymorphism in the gene encoding the neurotransmitter-metabolizing enzyme monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) moderated the effect of maltreatment. As adults 85% of the severely maltreated children with a genotype conferring low levels of MAOA expression developed antisocial outcomes such as conviction for violent crimes. In contrast, maltreated children with a genotype conferring high levels of MAOA expression were less likely to develop antisocial problems. These findings may partly explain why not all victims of maltreatment grow up to victimize others, and provide epidemiological evidence that genotypes can moderate children's sensitivity to a poor environment. The MAOA low-activity genotype did not predict violence in the sample studied; its increased risk for violence was 'activated' by child maltreatment. This suggests the best strategy for violence prevention is preventing child abuse. It is recommended that researchers should measure stressful life events in genetic studies.
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Item type Current library Call number Status Barcode
Journal article Journal article Vine library TRVF 000068 Available A00668125B

This paper presents the results of a study to determine why some children who are maltreated grow up to develop antisocial behaviour, whereas others do not. The study used data from a large sample of male children in Dunedin (New Zealand) from birth to adulthood. The study found that a functional polymorphism in the gene encoding the neurotransmitter-metabolizing enzyme monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) moderated the effect of maltreatment. As adults 85% of the severely maltreated children with a genotype conferring low levels of MAOA expression developed antisocial outcomes such as conviction for violent crimes. In contrast, maltreated children with a genotype conferring high levels of MAOA expression were less likely to develop antisocial problems. These findings may partly explain why not all victims of maltreatment grow up to victimize others, and provide epidemiological evidence that genotypes can moderate children's sensitivity to a poor environment. The MAOA low-activity genotype did not predict violence in the sample studied; its increased risk for violence was 'activated' by child maltreatment. This suggests the best strategy for violence prevention is preventing child abuse. It is recommended that researchers should measure stressful life events in genetic studies.

Science 297(5582) August 2002 : 851-854