Molecular Genetics and the Human Personality
- ISBN-10
- 0880487550
- ISBN-13
- 9780880487559
- Category
- Medical genetics
- Pages
- 356
- Language
- English
- Published
- 2002
- Publisher
- American Psychiatric Pub.
- Authors
- Jonathan Benjamin, Robert H. Belmaker, Richard P. Ebstein
Description
In the 1960's and 1970's, personality and mental illness were conceptualized in an intertwined psychodynamic model. Biological psychiatry for many un-weaved that model and took mental illness for psychiatry and left personality to psychology. This book brings personality back into biological psychiatry, not merely in the form of personality disorder but as part of a new intertwined molecular genetic model of personality and mental disorder. This is the beginning of a new conceptual paradigm!!
This breakthrough volume marks the beginning of a new era, an era made possible by the electrifying pace of discovery and innovation in the field of molecular genetics. In fact, several types of genome maps have already been completed, and today's experts confidently predict that we will have a smooth version of the sequencing of the human genome--which contains some 3 billion base pairs
Such astounding progress helped fuel the development of this remarkable volume, the first ever to discuss the brand-new--and often controversial--field of molecular genetics and the human personality. Questioning, critical, and strong on methodological principles, this volume reflects the point of view of its 35 distinguished contributors--all pioneers in this burgeoning field and themselves world-class theoreticians, empiricists, clinicians, developmentalists, and statisticians.
For students of psychopathology and others bold enough to hold in abeyance their understandable misgivings about the conjunction of "molecular genetics" and "human personality," this work offers an authoritative and up-to-date introduction to the molecular genetics of human personality. The book, with its wealth of facts, conjectures, hopes, and misgivings, begins with a preface by world-renowned researcher and author Irving Gottesman. - The authors masterfully guide us through Chapter 1, principles and methods; Chapter 4, animal models for personality; and Chapter 11, human intelligence as a model for personality, laying the groundwork for our appreciation of the remaining empirical findings of human personality qua personality.- Many chapters (6, 7, 9, 11, and 13) emphasize the neurodevelopmental and ontogenetic aspects of personality, with a major emphasis on the receptors and transporters for the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin. Though these neurotransmitters are a rational starting point now, the future undoubtedly will bring many other candidate genes that today cannot even be imagined, given our ignorance of the genes involved in the prenatal development of the central nervous system. - Chapter 3 provides an integrative overview of the broad autism phenotype, and as such will be of special interest to child psychiatrists. Chapters 5, 8, and 10 offer enlightening information on drug and alcohol abuse. Chapter 14 discusses variations in sexuality.- Adding balance and mature perspectives on how all the chapters complement and sometimes challenge one another are Chapter 2, written by a major figure in the renaissance of the relevance to psychopathology of both genetics and personality; Chapters 15-17, informed critical appraisals citing concerns and cautions about premature applications of this information in the policy arena; and Chapter 18, a judicious contemplation by the editors themselves of this promising--and, to some, alarming--field.
Clear and meticulously researched, this eminently satisfying work is written to introduce the subject to postgraduate students just beginning to develop their research skills, to interested psychiatric practitioners, and to informed laypersons with some scientific background.
Get the book
Other editions
Similar books
-
Discovering Molecular Genetics: A Case Study Course with Problems & Scenarios
By Jeffrey H. MillerDISCUSSION The LPS that is normally present on the surface of S. typhimurium apparently acts as a partial barrier to the ... of the earlier work on this project , and to J. R. Roth and P. E. Hartman for helpful discussions and strains .
-
Scholars' Guide to Washington, D.C. Film and Video Collections
By Bonnie G. RowanMUSEUMS The following is a list of museums with film programs , compiled from the Official Museum Directory ( Washington , D.C .: American Association of Museums , 1975 ) . Check the " Weekend ” section on Friday in The Washington Post ...
-
Principles of Medical Genetics
By Thomas D. Gelehrter, Francis S. Collins, David GinsburgPrinciples of Medical Genetics
-
医学遗传学原理
By Thomas D. Gelehrter, 柯林斯, 盖莱哈特国外优秀教材
-
基因革命: 基因改造，可產生健康又長壽的特種新人類，是好是壞？
By 超媒體出版社, 洛展新, Systech-publications基因改造，可以剔走色盲、不育、腫瘤和肌肉萎縮等疾病，是重要發明！ 基因改造成功了，可以產生健康又長壽的特種新人類， ...
-
Cutting Edge Medicine: Genetics in Medicine
By Andrew SolwayExplains the science behind modern treatments. Examines the impact on society and discusses the moral issues at stake.
-
生命的语言：揭示人类基因的奥秘
By 邱晓芳, 时鹏为了解决这个问题,张进团队在“鸡蛋”还没有受精前进行细胞核移植,这种做法从技术上看是领先的,同时从伦理道德上也相对容易被接受。具体操作过程为,医生先移除Shaban的卵子原核,再植入同被去除卵子原核的捐赠者卵子内,然后授精。张进团队以这种方法, ...
-
Human Molecular Genetics
By Peter Sudbery, Ian SudberyThis third edition of Human Molecular Genetics continues to provide a clear introduction to this complex and fast moving field. Now updated and revised throughout, the material covered...
-
Essentials of Genetics
By William S. KlugKey Benefit: Known for its focus on problem-solving, conceptual understanding, and practical applications, this best-seller is 32 pages shorter than its previous edition. New features of the Seventh Edition...
-
Genetics and Ethics: An Interdisciplinary Study
By Gerard MagillThe genetics revolution that began with the discovery of DNA fifty years ago has transformed the science of biology. It has given us unprecedented power over life itself in the...