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medpundit |
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Sunday, July 21, 2002The gene involved codes for a protein in nerve cells. The protein is responsible for bringing serotonin into the cells. Serotonin is one of the chemicals that nerve cells rely on to communicate with one another. It is also the chemical that is influenced by the newer antidepressants such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil. In the human study, people who had a shortened version of the gene reacted with more anxiety to frightening stimuli than people with longer versions of the gene. Mice can be manipulated in ways that people can’t, so in the mouse study, the gene was turned off or turned on at various stages of the mouse’s life. When the gene was turned off, the mice acted anxious and inhibited in unfamiliar situations. When it was turned on, they acted like normal mice. If the gene was turned on in mouse childhood, but switched off in mouse adulthood, the mice behaved normally as adults. They had no anxiety. If it was turned off in mouse childhood and turned on in adulthood, they remained anxious mice throughout their life. If what holds true in mice also holds true in men, then behaviors learned in childhood are difficult to change, even if we can manipulate their molecular and genetic sources. The Jesuits were apparently on to something when they said, “Give me a child until the age of seven and I will show you the man.” posted by Sydney on 7/21/2002 07:46:00 AM 0 comments 0 Comments: |
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