Discuss the dangers of placing too much emphasis on the genetic basis of personality and behavior

What will be an ideal response?


Background:
The history of human behavioral genetics in the eugenics movement of the early part of the last century provides a lesson in the consequences of overemphasizing the role of genetics in behavior. The identification of genes affecting behavior may not only lead to improvements in diagnosis and treatment of behavior disorders but also has implications for society at large. The Human Genome Project has raised questions about the way in which genetic information will be disseminated and used. The same concerns need to be addressed for genes that affect behavior. Many behavioral phenotypes, such as Huntington disease and Alzheimer disease, are clearly regarded as abnormal. Few would argue against the development of treatments for intervention in and prevention of these conditions. The larger question is: When do behavior phenotypes move from being abnormal to being variants? If there is a connection between bipolar disorder or some forms of autism and creativity, to what extent should the condition be treated? If genes that influence sexual orientation are identified, will this behavior be regarded as a variant or as a condition that should be treated and/or prevented?

Biology & Microbiology

You might also like to view...

Over the past 100 years, the decrease in deaths due to infectious disease has been somewhat offset by an increase in death due to metabolic diseases.

Answer the following statement true (T) or false (F)

Biology & Microbiology

What happens to the population size when the birth rate is much larger than the death rate?

a. It remains at an equilibrium. b. It grows to K very quickly. c. It grows to K, but very slowly. d. The population declines.

Biology & Microbiology

If a diploid cell goes through mitosis it will generate

A. four haploid cells. B. two diploid cells. C. two haploid cells. D. four diploid cells. E. This is not possible.

Biology & Microbiology

The Gardasil vaccine:

A. Protects against infection with 4 types of human papillomavirus. B. Protects against infection with HIV. C. Protects against infection will over 100 types of human papillomavirus. D. Protects against infection with all herpes viruses. E. Protects against infection will several types of human herpesvirus.

Biology & Microbiology