A3.

18S

Student

Activity 3.18 Genes or the environment

Purpose
 To appreciate the difficulty of determining the
extent to which characteristics in organisms are
caused by genetic or environmental factors.
A case study
In this activity you consider the relationship between monoamine oxidase A deficiency, childhood
maltreatment, and anti-social behaviour.
Watch the video clip of a news report and read the ‘Nature or Nurture?’ article below about
Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), childhood maltreatment and anti-social behaviour that appears on
the Ethical Emporium website that accompanies this activity, and answer the questions. Use full
sentences so as to produce some notes on this topic. To answer the last two questions
comprehensively will require extended writing.
The amended version of the article ‘Nature and nurture?’ that is the case study overview on the
ethical emporium website for Genes and anti-social behaviour can be found at the following URL:
http://www.windfalldigital.com/ethicalemporium/.

Questions
Q1 The New Zealand Dunedin study described in the ‘Nature or nurture?’ article is an example of a
‘longitudinal’ study. Look back at the information on epidemiological studies in Topic 1 section 1.3.
Which type of epidemiological study is similar to the Dunedin study? In what way is the Dunedin study
different from the epidemiological studies described in Topic 1?
Q2 Why was it important that the medical researchers in Dunedin tracked all the children born between
1972 and 1973, and not just some?
Q3 A retention rate of 97% after 26 years is very high for this type of study. Suggest why the Dunedin study
might have achieved this high retention rate.
Q4 Outline the function of neurotransmitters and the role of the enzyme Monoamine oxidase A, in the
passage of nerve impulses.
Q5 Draw a series of annotated diagrams to show what is happening at a synapse in a person with
a normal levels of MAOA and
b a person with low levels of MAOA.
m m
Q6 Using X for the allele on the X chromosome which results in normal levels of MAOA, and X for the
mutant allele, explain why males are more likely to be affected by low levels of MAOA than females.
Q7 Why did the MAOA ‘knock out’ mice have very high levels of neurotransmitter compared with normal
mice?

Salters-Nuffield Advanced Biology, Pearson Education Ltd 2008. © University of York Science Education Group.
This sheet may have been altered from the original. 1 of 2
 A3.18S

Activity 3.18 Genes or the environment Student

Q8 How might researchers have decided that the ‘knock out’ mice were ‘fearless and aggressive’?
Q9 Why were males of Maori descent excluded from the King’s College analysis?
Q10 Why is it important that the Dunedin study’s findings have been confirmed by several other studies?
Q11 Can we conclude from the Dutch research and the King’s analysis of the Dunedin study that anti-
social behaviour is caused by a genetic mutation? Explain and justify your answer.

Extension
Q12 When this scientific study was published in August 2002, its findings were widely reported in
mainstream newspapers and magazines. Look up some of news reports. What social, moral and ethical
issues do these reports raise?
To find out what some real scientists and researchers think about these issues, visit the Ethical Emporium
website and read the ‘Options and ethics commentators’ section”.

Q13 You are a social worker working with a foster family looking after and supporting Jason. Jason was
maltreated as a child and exhibits quite severe anti-social behaviour. His foster family are finding him
increasingly hard to cope with. Jason’s natural mother maintains contact, although his father is in prison.
You have a colleague who is a genetic counsellor and she thinks Jason should be genetically tested to
see if he has the MAOA allele mutation. Discuss the questions below with another student and note
down what you think. There are no ‘right answers’!
 Do you think Jason should be tested?
 Who will benefit from knowing the results of the test?
 How would you explain about MAOA to his foster parents?
 How would you deal with the maltreatment issue?
 What sort of concerns and worries might all the involved parties have?
 How would you reassure them?

To find out more about Jason’s situation see the clips on the Ethical Emporium website.

News clip (from Genetic influences section)

Introduction to MAOA (from Options and ethics: testing and treatment section)
Explanation of genetics (ditto)
Jason’s options (ditto)
What a counsellor does (ditto)

Salters-Nuffield Advanced Biology, Pearson Education Ltd 2008. © University of York Science Education Group.
This sheet may have been altered from the original. 2 of 2