title: Monoamine oxidase A genotype, childhood adversity, and criminal behavior in an incarcerated sample.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A number of studies have found a functional variable number tandem repeat polymorphism in the upstream regulatory region of the monoamine oxidase A gene (MAOA-uVNTR) interacts with childhood adversity to increase risk for antisocial behavior. Several studies have also reported null findings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Here, we examine the association between MAOA-uVNTR genotype, childhood adversity, and criminal activity in a sample of 99 male volunteers who were incarcerated in a large city jail in the Southern United States. MAOA-uVNTR genotypes were obtained from DNA extracted from buccal swabs. Criminal activity in the year before incarceration and childhood adversity were measured with self-report surveys. Violent arrest rates and property arrest rates were quantified with official records of arrest and accounted for periods of incarceration in local and state correctional facilities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The low expressing allele of the MAOA-uVNTR genotype (MAOAL) interacted with abuse to predict self-reports of less serious criminal and delinquent behavior and had a direct association with serious criminal activity. MAOAL genotype interacted with parental criminality to predict self-reports of serious criminal behavior, property arrest rates, and violent arrest rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that crime prevention efforts may be improved through attention to the neurodevelopmental consequence of gene-by-environment interactions.
authors.affiliation: Departments of aCriminal Justice and Criminology bForensic Science, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville cHealth Science Center, University of North Texas, Fort Worth, Texas dDepartment of Justice Studies, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Meyers, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Todd A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: Brian B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Boutwell
authors.forename: Shahida
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Symonds
authors.forename: Shawn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Gangitano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001519:Behavior; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D057237:Criminals / Q000523:psychology*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000235:genetics*; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D057566:Self Report; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008995:Monoamine Oxidase; C579458:monoamine oxidase A, human