He has been called the "warrior gene" - a mutation that seems to make more aggressive people. Now researchers report that sufferers of this gene may be not aggressive, just better at their own interests.Previous spots research showed that people with MAOA-L, a gene which controls chemical products signalling in the brain may be more aggressive. But there is a huge controversy, as the effects of gene seem to vary with the popular backgrounds.Cary Frydman and his colleagues at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena now found that people with MAOA-L "just make better choices", explains Frydman. "Is not the same as aggression."MAOA gene Variants produced less or more than one enzyme that degrades many products chemical signals called neurotransmitters. Persons MAOA-L, which leads to less enzyme, show sometimes more aggressive or impulsivity-, but not always.To trying to dissect these differences, Frydman has given 83 140 hypothetical choice male volunteers. 3 Minutes for each choice, men had to decide whether they prefer something to ensure, to say given $2 or an option risky, for example, a 50: 50 $ 10 to win or lose chance $5.Previous research has shown that these options can be used to reveal overall individual risk aversion. The team found that it does differ in individuals with or without MAOA - L .But, the calculation also helped to look at how often each person took the risky option would also do the most good. At all levels of the participants, risk aversion "MAOA-L carriers were better choose what - to them - was the most beneficial option".the results are consistent with previous research, said Frydman, but his team can distinguish for the first time between the two components of every decision: decide how much each option was worth, and then comparing them. MAOA-L carriers were better at the second part.This edge may look like an assault or impulsivity in certain situations, but may simply reflect more focused attention, Frydman said. "If both players have cards and brings a lot of Paris, it may seem as it is more aggressive or impulse." But you don't know what cards there - it can only be responding to the opportunities. "Previous studies that combine MAOA-L with aggression or impulsivity may should be interpreted with care,"says Antonio Rangel, who heads the laboratory where Frydman works." "The key question is whether, in the context of the lives of individuals, these decisions are best or not."In a study published last year Dominic Johnson from the University of Edinburgh, UK, concluded that MAOA-L carriers were more aggressive, but only after a great provocation and without impulsivity apparent. "Which can be explained by this new book," he says, because his subjects appear to be acting in the strategic interests, MAOA-L carriers from the same Frydman was good. This also suggests how such behaviour - and the gene that shapes-could be chosen by evolution.The implications go beyond what is called "warrior gene." As the sequencing of the genes gets cheaper, said Frydman, there will be more effort to connect genes to the behavior. To do this accurately, researchers will need to define components behaviour as carefully as they reference DNA.Journal: proceedings of the Royal Society B, DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2010.2304If you want to
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