the so-called ‘warrior gene’

My first question on this is “how is a gang defined?” If this is an actual link to a predisposition to group violence, I would expect to see it also correlated with military volunteers, and particularly those most inclined to violence within the military. Casting this as a “gang-related” gene is a political statement of framing.

Boys who carry a particular variation of the gene Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), sometimes called the “warrior gene,” are more likely not only to join gangs but also to be among the most violent members and to use weapons, according to a new study from The Florida State University that is the first to confirm an MAOA link specifically to gangs and guns.

via FSU study links ‘warrior gene’ to gang membership, weapon use.

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