Our Genes, Our Choices: How Genotype and Gene Interactions Affect Behavior, Second Edition explains how the complexity of human behavior, including concepts of free will, derives from a relatively small number of genes, which direct neurodevelopmental sequences. Are people free to make choices, or do genes determine behavior? Paradoxically, the answer to both questions is "yes," because of neurogenetic individuality, a new theory with profound implications. Here, author David Goldman uses judicial, political, medical, and ethical examples to illustrate that this lifelong process is guided by individual genotype, molecular and physiologic principles, as well as by randomness and environmental exposures, a combination of factors that we choose and do not choose. Written in an authoritative yet accessible style, the book includes practical descriptions of the function of DNA, discusses the scientific and historical bases of genethics, and introduces the topics of epigenetics and the predictive power of behavioral genetics.
In the decade since the first edition published, knowledge of genetic influences on the neurogenetic underpinnings of behavior has been transformed by genomic technologies. Genome-Wide Association studies, for example, have revealed that hundreds of genes influence vulnerability to psychiatric disease and innate predisposition to risk-taking behaviors. This new edition has been thoroughly revised to focus on free will and its neurogenetic origins. In addition, the use of polygenic scores for behavioral prediction are discussed in-depth, reflecting the GWAS (Genome-Wide Association Study) revolution and combined use of genetic predictors in polygenic scores. Sections on epigenetics are also substantially expanded throughout, better defined, and tied to neuroplasticity and gene-environment interaction. Figures and illustrations have been added or improved throughout, and disease nosology and terminology has been updated.
1. Chapter 1 : Introduction: Thou mayest choose - p. Page xiv 2. Chapter 2 : The jinn in the genome - p. Page 4 3. Chapter 3 : 2B or not 2B? - p. Page 16 4. Chapter 4 : Stephen Mobley and his X chromosome - p. Page 27 5. Chapter 5 : Dial multifactorial for murder: The intersection of genes and culture - p. Page 35 6. Chapter 6 : Distorted capacity: The measure of the impaired will - p. Page 48 7. Chapter 7 : Distorted capacity: Neuropsychiatric diseases and the impaired will - p. Page 76 8. Chapter 8 : Inheritance of behavior and genes “for” behavior: Gene wars - p. Page 93 9. Chapter 9 : The scientific and historic basis of genethics - p. Page 114 10. Chapter 10 : The world is double helical: DNA, RNA, and proteins, in a few easy pieces - p. Page 130 11. Chapter 11 : The stochastic brain: From DNA blueprint to behavior - p. Page 146 12. Chapter 12 : Reintroducing genes and behavior - p. Page 166 13. Chapter 13 : Warriors and worriers - p. Page 182 14. Chapter 14 : How many genes does it take to make a behavior? - p. Page 198 15. Chapter 15 : The genesis and genetics of sexual behavior - p. Page 210 16. Chapter 16 : Gene-by-environment interaction - p. Page 229 17. Chapter 17 : The epigenetic revolution: The imprint of the environment on the genome - p. Page 249 18. Chapter 18 : Time out for free will - p. Page 262 19. Chapter 19 : The top-down neurogenesis of free will - p. Page 273 20. Chapter 20 : Neurogenetic origins of free will - p. Page 287 21. Index - p. Page 294
Our Genes, Our Choices: How Genotype and Gene Interactions Affect Behavior, Second Edition explains how the complexity of human behavior, including concepts of free will, derives from a relatively small number of genes, which direct neurodevelopmental sequences. Are people free to make choices, or do genes determine behavior? Paradoxically, the answer to both questions is "yes," because of neurogenetic individuality, a new theory with profound implications. Here, author David Goldman uses judicial, political, medical, and ethical examples to illustrate that this lifelong process is guided by individual genotype, molecular and physiologic principles, as well as by randomness and environmental exposures, a combination of factors that we choose and do not choose. Written in an authoritative yet accessible style, the book includes practical descriptions of the function of DNA, discusses the scientific and historical bases of genethics, and introduces the topics of epigenetics and the predictive power of behavioral genetics.
In the decade since the first edition published, knowledge of genetic influences on the neurogenetic underpinnings of behavior has been transformed by genomic technologies. Genome-Wide Association studies, for example, have revealed that hundreds of genes influence vulnerability to psychiatric disease and innate predisposition to risk-taking behaviors. This new edition has been thoroughly revised to focus on free will and its neurogenetic origins. In addition, the use of polygenic scores for behavioral prediction are discussed in-depth, reflecting the GWAS (Genome-Wide Association Study) revolution and combined use of genetic predictors in polygenic scores. Sections on epigenetics are also substantially expanded throughout, better defined, and tied to neuroplasticity and gene-environment interaction. Figures and illustrations have been added or improved throughout, and disease nosology and terminology has been updated.
1. Chapter 1 : Introduction: Thou mayest choose - p. Page xiv 2. Chapter 2 : The jinn in the genome - p. Page 4 3. Chapter 3 : 2B or not 2B? - p. Page 16 4. Chapter 4 : Stephen Mobley and his X chromosome - p. Page 27 5. Chapter 5 : Dial multifactorial for murder: The intersection of genes and culture - p. Page 35 6. Chapter 6 : Distorted capacity: The measure of the impaired will - p. Page 48 7. Chapter 7 : Distorted capacity: Neuropsychiatric diseases and the impaired will - p. Page 76 8. Chapter 8 : Inheritance of behavior and genes “for” behavior: Gene wars - p. Page 93 9. Chapter 9 : The scientific and historic basis of genethics - p. Page 114 10. Chapter 10 : The world is double helical: DNA, RNA, and proteins, in a few easy pieces - p. Page 130 11. Chapter 11 : The stochastic brain: From DNA blueprint to behavior - p. Page 146 12. Chapter 12 : Reintroducing genes and behavior - p. Page 166 13. Chapter 13 : Warriors and worriers - p. Page 182 14. Chapter 14 : How many genes does it take to make a behavior? - p. Page 198 15. Chapter 15 : The genesis and genetics of sexual behavior - p. Page 210 16. Chapter 16 : Gene-by-environment interaction - p. Page 229 17. Chapter 17 : The epigenetic revolution: The imprint of the environment on the genome - p. Page 249 18. Chapter 18 : Time out for free will - p. Page 262 19. Chapter 19 : The top-down neurogenesis of free will - p. Page 273 20. Chapter 20 : Neurogenetic origins of free will - p. Page 287 21. Index - p. Page 294
