MAOA Gene and Maori Violence
Is it any wonder the Maori objected to the inclusion of their DNA in the National Geographic’s The Genographic Project? The latest research produced by New Zealand researcher Dr Rod Lea and his colleagues’ shows a connection between the frequency of specific monoamine oxidase (MAOA) gene variants and certain positive and negative behaviors in the Maori. The MAOA gene has previously been linked to violent behavior and neophilia.
Dr. Lea in his presentation to the International Congress of Human Genetics in Brisbane:
Maori, being very adventurous individuals as they crossed the Pacific, have carried this gene forward and it was partly responsible for them arriving in New Zealand and surviving.
[The gene also] goes a long way to explaining some of the problems Maori have. Obviously, this means they are going to be more aggressive and violent and more likely to get involved in risk-taking behaviour like gambling. They’re much more likely to binge drink than other groups which are more likely to moderate their drinking.
Research is also being conducted on the “thrifty gene” and its role in the higher rates of obesity in the Maori. A very interesting population to study but I hope the researchers are being sensitive to the impact of their findings on the Maori and helping to develop ways in which to improve the life and health of this special indigenous population.
The Daily Telegraph, August 8, 2006
Technorati Tags: maori, genetics, genes, dna, maoa, monoamine oxidase, aggressive behavior, violence, neophilia
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9 opinions for MAOA Gene and Maori Violence
Deb L
Aug 8, 2006 at 9:44 pm
Things like this tend to make me a bit angry- and I think it is because the impression these researchers tend to give off is that the indigenous minority is an oddity or specimen instead of a member of the human race.
In the case of the Maori, I’m offended for them. Partly because my very dear exchange-sister is half Maori, and partly because it doesn’t seem that they’ve bothered to stop and think that perhaps the reason there is a higher rate of obesity or tendency towards binge drinking just may be due to the economic poverty many Maori face. Well, I guess I’d have to read the article/presentation you pulled your excerpt from to know if that was factored in, but still.
To lay it all at the feet of genetics smacks of a big fat cop-out.
Hsien Hsien Lei, PhD
Aug 9, 2006 at 8:37 am
Deb: I agree with you there. The article that quoted the researchers was very negative in tone. They passingly mentioned environmental factors but it was clear that the higher frequency of certain variants of MAOA and other genes was the focus of their excitement. Maybe I’ll hunt down the researcher and ask him for an interview.
Petros
Sep 9, 2006 at 12:59 pm
This finding, and others like it, are gross examples of biodeterminism. When are socio-biologists going to understand that human genes do not CAUSE aggressive behavior?
Hsien Hsien Lei, PhD
Sep 9, 2006 at 1:43 pm
Petros: Welcome to Genetics and Health where genes are tabloid fodder. Sorry for the sarcasm. In cases such as this, it’s clear that genes are what got them publicity but genes are the last solution to the societal problem.
MC
Jan 9, 2007 at 7:36 pm
Just FYI: 2006 publication of a study (R Lea)
Here’s the citation & abstract:
J Hum Genet. 2006 Dec 19; [Epub ahead of print]
Haplotype analysis at the alcohol dehydrogenase gene region in New Zealand Maori.
Hall DA, Chambers GK, Lea RA.
Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand.
Alcohol response is a genetically influenced trait, and there is significant variation in the patterns of alcohol consumption between Maori and Caucasians in New Zealand. Previous studies have found that a variant of the alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) gene (ADH1B*47His) is associated with protection against alcohol dependence in Maori. Here we extend our investigation of the ADH genes,
hypothesising a different haplotype signature in Maori compared to Caucasians. We analysed nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) spanning a 500-kb region on chromosome 4q surrounding the ADH1B variant and several other alcohol-metabolising genes (ADH 4, 5, 6, 7). Genotyping was carried out on 47 unrelated Maori individuals, and allele frequencies were compared to the Caucasian population. Large differences in minor allele frequencies were observed between Maori and Caucasian populations for six SNPs (P
Want a job? Submit your DNA — Eye on DNA
May 19, 2007 at 10:13 am
[…] assess personality traits, such as the MAOA gene which is associated with violent behavior, the D4-7 gene variant associated with risk taking, the […]
tom appleton
Aug 28, 2007 at 9:54 pm
FAR from finding this information negative, I feel it is a most welcome aid to formulating policy in New Zealand. Alcohol consumption is a problem in many parts of the world — and has been so, traditionally, even in ‘Caucasian’ societies — notably Ireland and Russia. But it is well known that Asians or people deriving from Asia — and this includes Maori but also American Indians and even Australian Aboriginies have a particularly low tolerance to alcohol — as well as to other foodstuffs that we identify with junkfood and high levels of refined sugar. A country like New Zealand needs to be aware of such information in order to be able to formulate responsible health policies, which governments can try to enforce for the common good. This includes health education in schools and communities, and may involve all sorts of other measures to help transform types of social behaviour that will do harm to the populations involved. In fact, science and responsible politics can and should work hand in hand here. It is countries like Russia that have a recognised alcohol epidemic but refuse to do anything about it that demonstrate at least one thing: that “racism” does not necessarily enter into it. In Australia, where the official policy appears to be a “we-don’t-care” attitude, Aborigines may be left to their own devices — i.e., left to drink themselves to death. Here, it is easy to assume that the white majority is simply practicing racist neglect. In Russia, corruption, economic interests and other factors seem to hamstring thee government which, in any case, shows little willingness to act on the problem. In New Zealand being able to recognise some of he contributing factors — such as a genetic predisposition towards alcoholism or a weak ability to handle alcohol — can be a valuable tool in the hands of responsible government, to implement health policies that will curtail these problems and reduce their vast social costs.
i would, incidentally, point out that Asians often also have problems digesting MILK, and New Zealand, being a very milk-based society, may in fact be inviting a good many health problems in a large proportion of its society by indiscriminately advocating the consumption of milk products. Here we can see how economic interests sometimes stand in the way of responsible politics.
In any case. “alcohol” is no more the problem, in itself and by itself, than is “genetics”. The simple fact is that people are affected by different things in different ways and they need to be educated about them, to avoid being sick, or, by being sicj without knowing it, causing major problems to society as a whole.
Lena Rodriguez
Oct 8, 2007 at 8:34 am
Greetings from Australia
I teach health sociology and am doing my PhD on the obesity in the Maori/Pacific Island population in Australia. I’ve lived in this community for 20 years. First - obesity - ironic that health professionals in New Zealand in the 30’s and 40’s were concerned about malnutrition in the Maori community. By the 50’s you have relative prosperity and people could afford large amounts of food for their families. Now you have the bringing together of a culture that highly regards food in terms of ceremony and sharing, and valuing generosity meets social disadvantage - feeding big families cheaply which leads to a poor diet like anglos or any other people. Secondly, the Warrior Gene … Rod Lea seems to dismiss the thoroughness and discipline that went into the planning of long sea voyages and seems to think Maori (and Pacific Islanders) just rowed off into the sunset until they washed up somewhere. Many of the voyages around the Pacific were repeat trading voyages and people knew how long it would take and had adequate provisions and skills to sustain themselves. He suggests they had a big feed and then set sail and were sitting around living off their own fat! What marathon runner is fat? His boy scout logic is questionable but his pitiful understanding of even recent Maori history is shameful.
Melissa
Oct 9, 2007 at 10:38 pm
While making very simplistic and inaccurate statements and assumptions is obviously irresponsible and on many levels potentially very damaging, I do however, also see that the reactions of some (with regards to DNA research) have begun to be just as irresponsible and damaging.
DNA is an aspect of our being and our history; ignoring the reality and the importance will serve no good.
FYI (looking at the study in question): Two articles in The New Zealand Medical Journal, 02-March-2007, Vol 120 No 1250
Risk-taking: behind the warrior gene story
Tony Merriman, Vicky Cameron
http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/120-1250/2440/
Warrior genes and risk-taking science
Peter Crampton, Chris Parkin
http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/120-1250/2439/
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