Shih on the Brunner study
Dr. Jean Chen Shih, University Professor and Professor of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the USC School of Pharmacy
Dr. Shih on Dr. Brunner’s study
• The significance of Dr. Brunner’s work
• The biological component of behavior
The family’s report
“A curious case”
• The grand uncle’s study: could it be inherited?
• His conclusions: female transmission affects the males
Night Terrors
Problems with sleep:
• Sleeplessness
• Night terrors
• Anxiety
Whether to publish the study
Publishing
• A new idea coupled with uncertainties
• What the family wanted
• Reception to the study: genes do matter
• Changing paradigms
The Genetics
Sequencing the family
• What causes the problem?
• Testing for MAO A activity
• Gene sequencing reveals mutations
• Summarizing the situation
Jean Shih’s study with mice
In his pioneering study of a Dutch family with several generations of violent males, clinical geneticist Dr. Han Brunner has provided the first tangible evidence of a direct link between molecular biology (a MAO A deficiency) and aggressive behavior in humans.
Dr. Brunner and Dr. Shih
• Dr. Brunner’s findings: distinctions in the family
• MAO A as a credible candidate
• Coming into contact with Dr. Shih
Stress and environment
Genetic and environmental interactions
• Stable situations
• Stressful situations
Aggressive Behavior
Aggressive behaviors
• Physical aggression
• Sexual behavior
• Men and their sisters
• Arson
How Brunner discovered the Dutch family
In his pioneering study of a Dutch family with several generations of violent males, clinical geneticist Dr. Han Brunner has provided the first tangible evidence of a direct link between molecular biology (a MAO A deficiency) and aggressive behavior in humans.
How Dr. Brunner found the family and discovered:
• Problems with males in the family
• No tests available, but a pattern was clear
• The beginning of a scientific project