title: Genetics and criminal behaviour: recent accomplishments.
abstract: The past two decades have seen an explosion in research in the fields of violence and behavioural genetics. Advances in human genetics have raised the possibility that genetic mechanisms can explain various aspects of human criminal and aggressive behaviour. However, this new knowledge can pose enormous challenges concerning the moral and legal conceptions of free will and responsibility. This paper reviews the main aspects of behavioural genetics, focusing on criminal and aggressive behaviour and describes the most important genes known to influence this behaviour.
authors.affiliation: Medical Faculty of Oporto University, Portugal. arlindolagoa@gmail.com
authors.forename: Arlindo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lagoa
authors.forename: Agostinho
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: M Fátima
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Magalhães
mesh_terms: D053803:Forensic Genetics; D005824:Genetics, Behavioral; D006801:Humans; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000235:genetics; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci / Q000235:genetics; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000235:genetics; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014754:Violence
chemical_list: D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase