http://precedings.nature.com/collections/cirge-symposium-2006/ Recently posted documents in Stanford University: CIRGE Symposium June 6, 2006 Nature Publishing Group en Nature Precedings http://precedings.nature.com/images/header_logo.gif http://precedings.nature.com http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npre.2008.2623.1 This talk has 4 major sections. First, I review the basic definition of a complex trait, especially as it applies to psychiatric disorders. Second, I outline the 4 basic paradigms of psychiatric genetics: simple genetic epidemiology, advanced genetic epidemiology, gene-finding methods and molecular genetics. Third, I review a few basic facts about psychiatric genetics – the level of heritabilities found for most common disorders and the difficulties the field has had in obtaining replicated evidence for single gene effects. Finally, I briefly review three conceptual/philosophical issues that relate to psychiatric genetics: i) why do people become much more concerned in learning about possible genetic influences on personality or risk for depression than genes that influence risk for cancer, atherosclerosis or asthma? ii) how have the results of research in behavioral/Psychiatric Genetics impacted on the sense of Parental Responsibility for psychiatric illness in their offspring.To watch Dr. Kendler’s presentation, please see the Google Video posting. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npre.2008.2623.1 Wed, 10 Dec 2008 22:11:28 UTC Psychiatric Genetics: Methods, Findings and Ethical Issues doi:10.1038/npre.2008.2623.1 2008-12-10 Kenneth Kendler Nature Precedings 2008-12-10T22:11:28Z Presentation Genetics & Genomics http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npre.2008.2621.1 Behavioral and Psychiatric Genetics (BPG) offers great promise for clarifying the causes of both normal behaviors as well as psychiatric disorders, and in the latter case serving as a more rational basis for treatments. But the field has also generated serious social concerns about individual and ethnic stereotyping of intelligence and violent behaviors. This short talk identifies some of these themes from the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, and reviews recent shifts about the directions BPG is taking in the first decade of the twenty-first century. I cover the collapse of simple molecular gene-behavior models in the 1990s, and the rise of gene-environment interaction paradigms, as well as the increasing role of neuroscience in BPG in the present decade. I close by citing molecular-studies that may require we revisit previous historical lessons, now in a molecular genetics-neuroscience context.To watch Dr. Schaffner’s presentation, please see the Google Video posting. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npre.2008.2621.1 Wed, 10 Dec 2008 02:06:40 UTC Behavioral and Psychiatric Genetics: Learning from History doi:10.1038/npre.2008.2621.1 2008-12-10 Kenneth Schaffner Nature Precedings 2008-12-10T02:06:40Z Presentation Genetics & Genomics http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npre.2008.2619.1 Dr. Hallmayer began with a discussion of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics’ work on genetics, mental disorders and human behavior. He further explored psychiatric genetics and urged against the oversimplification of dynamic interactions. To watch Dr. Hallmayer’s presentation, please see the Google Video posting.To watch the deliberative discussion concluding the first Symposium panel, please see the Google Video posting. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npre.2008.2619.1 Wed, 10 Dec 2008 02:04:25 UTC Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics: A Useful Distinction? doi:10.1038/npre.2008.2619.1 2008-12-10 Joachim Hallmayer Nature Precedings 2008-12-10T02:04:25Z Presentation Genetics & Genomics http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npre.2008.2564.1 Understanding the role of genes in human behavior will impact both medicine and society, but not always in the manner expected. Knowledge about behavioral genes can be used for the good, for example by improving psychiatric diagnoses, developing new drugs to treat mental illnesses, and dispelling harmful myths about certain types of human variation. However, the same sort of information could be used to discriminate against people, to provide quick fixes for social problems, or to support eugenics. How we use the new knowledge about molecular behavior genetics will depend on the legal, ethical and social policies that we develop.To watch Dr. Hamer’s presentation, please see the Google Video posting. To watch the deliberative discussion concluding the Symposium after this last presentation, please see the Google Video posting. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npre.2008.2564.1 Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:18:44 UTC Impact of Behavior Genetics on Medicine and Society doi:10.1038/npre.2008.2564.1 2008-12-03 Dean Hamer Nature Precedings 2008-12-03T23:18:44Z Presentation Genetics & Genomics http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npre.2008.2568.1 Dr. Press discussed behavioral genetics through the lens of social constructionism. She also discussed the phenomenon of medicalization, focusing on the example of smoking as a behavior.To watch Dr. Press’s presentation, please see the Google Video posting. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npre.2008.2568.1 Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:04:34 UTC Phenotypes, Social Constructionism and the Spurious Finding doi:10.1038/npre.2008.2568.1 2008-12-03 Nancy Press Nature Precedings 2008-12-03T05:04:34Z Presentation Genetics & Genomics http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npre.2008.2567.1 Behavior genetics holds out the hope of unbiased study of the biological bases of human behavior. Without more rigorous reflection on behavioral concepts, however, behavior genetics will succeed only in reinforcing social biases. This point is illustrated with reference to studies on aggression, sexual orientation, and gender differences.To watch Professor Longino’s presentation, please see the Google Video posting. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npre.2008.2567.1 Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:03:03 UTC Challenging or Reinforcing Social Prejudice? doi:10.1038/npre.2008.2567.1 2008-12-03 Helen Longino Nature Precedings 2008-12-03T05:03:03Z Presentation Genetics & Genomics http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npre.2008.2566.1 I will explore the implications of findings in behavioral genetics for two conceptions of equality: equality of opportunity and the equal moral worth of persons. New findings in behavioral genetics showing that behavioral traits, and the variance in behavioral traits, have some genetic underpinnings would not seem in themselves to threaten either of these notions of equality—we have long known that there is significant variation in these traits across persons and have assumed that some significant portion of that variation has genetic sources. I believe it is the uncertain and probably distant prospect of genetic interventions to enhance some behavioral traits, which could greatly increase the range and inequality of those traits in humans, that may seem to threaten these two notions of equality. I will argue that significant capacities to enhance behavioral traits could indeed threaten and erode equality of opportunity, but that it should not undermine the equal moral worth of persons.To watch my presentation, please see the Google Video posting. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npre.2008.2566.1 Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:01:44 UTC Behavioral Genetics and Equality doi:10.1038/npre.2008.2566.1 2008-12-03 Dan Brock Nature Precedings 2008-12-03T05:01:44Z Presentation Genetics & Genomics http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npre.2008.2565.1 Human behavioral genetics research has been introduced in the U.S. criminal justice system, and its use will likely become more prevalent in the near future. This presentation will discusses the recent attempts by criminal defendants to introduce genetic predisposition testimony to negate the voluntariness of their conduct, to negate mens rea, to bolster an insanity defense or as mitigating evidence during sentencing. Although courts have thus far limited such testimony, the opinions in these cases demonstrate a likelihood that such evidence will play a larger role in future cases.To watch Professor Farahany’s presentation, please see the Google Video posting. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npre.2008.2565.1 Wed, 03 Dec 2008 04:59:42 UTC Recent Use of Behavioral Genetics in Criminal Cases doi:10.1038/npre.2008.2565.1 2008-12-03 Nita Farahany Nature Precedings 2008-12-03T04:59:42Z Presentation Genetics & Genomics http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/