Alcohol, Impulsivity, and a Finnish Gene — Implications for Freedom of Will and Genetic Manipulation

© 2010 Peter Free

 

27 December 2010

 

 

Finland’s reportedly un-diverse genetic pool proved scientifically useful

 

According to ScienceDaily, Laura Bevilacqua et al., studying the genetics of violent criminal behavior in Finland, reported that:

 

 

"We conducted this study in Finland because of its unique population history and medical genetics," says Dr. Goldman.

 

 

"Modern Finns are descended from a relatively small number of original settlers, which has reduced the genetic complexity of diseases in that country. Studying the genetics of violent criminal offenders within Finland increased our chances of finding genes that influence impulsive behavior."

 

 

The hallmark of the violent crimes committed by individuals in the study sample was that they were spontaneous and purposeless.

 

 

They found that a single DNA change that blocks a gene known as HTR2B was predictive of highly impulsive behavior. HTR2B encodes one type of serotonin receptor in the brain.

 

 

"Carriers of the HTR2B variant who had committed impulsive crimes were male, and all had become violent only while drunk from alcohol, which itself leads to behavioral disinhibition."

 

 

© 2010 Genetic Variant That Can Lead to Severe Impulsivity Identified, ScienceDaily (27 December 2010) (extracts)

 

 

 

Citation

 

 

Laura Bevilacqua et al., A population-specific HTR2B stop codon predisposes to severe impulsivity, Nature 468 (7327): 1061-1066, doi: 10.1038/nature09629 (23 December 2010)

 

 

 

Deeper than at first glance

 

Cops know that impulsivity and crime go hand in hand.  And most have noticed that alcohol generally makes nonsensical violence and mischief worse.

 

The Bevilacqua et al. finding explains the potential mechanics of both, at least for one gene, in one population.

 

The correlation also explains why deterrence mostly doesn’t work.  Nor moral blame.

 

 

Freedom of will may not be what it’s cracked up to be

 

The parameters of free will are almost certainly more constrained than people like to admit.

 

Philosophically, that may not mean that we should act as if free will is limited.

 

But it might indicate that there is more place for socially and personally “beneficial” genetic interventions than most of us are willing to allow.