4 ms·
Some mental illness can be prevented by interfering with development in the womb, surely. Some cannot, surely. Genetics are not something you can medicate away,
by jack9 10y ago
Some mental illness can be prevented by interfering with development in the womb, surely. Some cannot, surely. Genetics are not something you can medicate away, completely. When we can modify the genes early enough, we still have to deal with what is genetically missing or weak.
- stri8ed 10y agoIt's worth noting that in the case of identical twins, with one having schizophrenia, the other twin is only 50% likely to develop it as well. This would suggest that genetics are not the sole determining factor, at least in schizophrenia.
- TTPrograms 10y ago50% is a massive correlation, as far as typical hereditary causes go.
- sp332 10y agoYes, but it shows that genes are not the only factor. It implies that 50% of people with a "schizophrenia gene" might never develop the disease.
- danieltillett 10y agoOr that the diagnosis of schizophrenia is not measuring the underlying disease state. Schizophrenia is one of those episodic diseases where each acute phase causes accumulated damage. You would expect that a small environmental trigger experienced by one twin to compound to a large difference in disease outcome.
- Mz 10y agoSome cannot, surely. You are making a massive assumption. We have no idea what can and cannot be influenced in the womb. Study of such things is in its infancy. Just because it hasn't been done before in human history does not mean it cannot be done. If that were true, then we would not have gone to the moon and we would not be discussing this article via internet.
- theparanoid 10y agoTay-Sachs is an example which is not influenced by the womb.
- Mz 10y agoReally? I would like to see links to solid, well designed studies proving this beyond a shadow of a doubt. I have a genetic disorder. I am well read on the topic.
- HiroshiSan 10y agoShirley you can't be serious...