Genetics and Juveniles
Genetics and Juvenile Delinquency
Virginia Watkins
Walden University The role of genetics in juvenile Delinquents: I have had the opportunity to observe a set of fraternal twins grow from birth to teen years. One had been known to steal things, and get into trouble while to other was withdrawn and extremely much an introvert. I often wondered if the extroverted twin appeared overly secure; he was slender in physique while his brother was introverted and obese, quite the opposite. According to Bartol and Bartol (2011), fraternal twins (also called Dizygotic DZ twins develop from two different fertilized eggs and are no more genetically alike than nontwin siblings. For the purpose of this discussion, I will attempt to analyze the role of genetics in juvenile delinquents. Genetic risk of violent behavior would tend to be more prevalent in identical twins (also called Monozygotic MZ twins develop from the same fertilized egg) than in fraternal twins (also called Dizygotic DZ twins develop from two different fertilized eggs. “Because MZ twins share 100 percent of their genes, it can be inferred that a child’s genetic risk for antisocial behavior is high if his or her co twin shows antisocial behavior and low if the MZ co twin does not” (Bartol and Bartol, 2011). The XYY theory posits that during the normal process at conceptions, an XX or an XY paired producing a female or male and in some cases, an extra Y chromosome attaches itself producing a XYY chromosomal combination. According to Champion, Merlo and Benekos (2010), this additional chromosome combination is the aggressive chromosome responsible for criminal behavior seen in juvenile delinquents. If this theory is accurate, then this tells me that males are more likely to be born with this abnormal chromosome than females. However, that brings into question the Purpose for the recent increase in female juvenile delinquency. Research has indicated that less than five percent of the population has this
Virginia Watkins
Walden University The role of genetics in juvenile Delinquents: I have had the opportunity to observe a set of fraternal twins grow from birth to teen years. One had been known to steal things, and get into trouble while to other was withdrawn and extremely much an introvert. I often wondered if the extroverted twin appeared overly secure; he was slender in physique while his brother was introverted and obese, quite the opposite. According to Bartol and Bartol (2011), fraternal twins (also called Dizygotic DZ twins develop from two different fertilized eggs and are no more genetically alike than nontwin siblings. For the purpose of this discussion, I will attempt to analyze the role of genetics in juvenile delinquents. Genetic risk of violent behavior would tend to be more prevalent in identical twins (also called Monozygotic MZ twins develop from the same fertilized egg) than in fraternal twins (also called Dizygotic DZ twins develop from two different fertilized eggs. “Because MZ twins share 100 percent of their genes, it can be inferred that a child’s genetic risk for antisocial behavior is high if his or her co twin shows antisocial behavior and low if the MZ co twin does not” (Bartol and Bartol, 2011). The XYY theory posits that during the normal process at conceptions, an XX or an XY paired producing a female or male and in some cases, an extra Y chromosome attaches itself producing a XYY chromosomal combination. According to Champion, Merlo and Benekos (2010), this additional chromosome combination is the aggressive chromosome responsible for criminal behavior seen in juvenile delinquents. If this theory is accurate, then this tells me that males are more likely to be born with this abnormal chromosome than females. However, that brings into question the Purpose for the recent increase in female juvenile delinquency. Research has indicated that less than five percent of the population has this