It is amazing to think about how interrelated all of our genes,
as humans, are to one another, even though our appearances make us look so
different. Scientists have found that the same inherited genetic variations in
humans lead to some of the most common mental illnesses in America. Often
times, knowing that someone has a mental disorder such as schizophrenia, they
are looked down upon as being “not normal” and perhaps in some cases this could
be the defining factor of keeping a friendship or not. If you knew that someone
close to you had a variation in these genes, would your opinion of them change?
If you yourself had this genetic variation and could change your genes to
“normal”, would you?
I'm not surprised by these findings, as it as been understood for sometime that certain mental disorders are inherited. With that said, I believe it is important to continue to investigate the genetic sources of such debilitating illnesses like schizophrenia and autism in order to provide better treatment and resources to those afflicted.
ReplyDeleteWe should not be asking ourselves if we would change our genes to "normal" if given the opportunity, because an overwhelming majority would answer "yes" to this somewhat rhetorical question. We should be asking what else we can do to support these individuals on the macro-level instead of intensely investigating on/off switches.
As someone who is very interested in the connection between psychology and science, I was interested to see how genomics interplays in determining similarities between individuals with different mental illnesses. The article speculates that individuals with 5 major disorders (schizophrenia, ADHD, depression, autism and bipolar) are likely to have variation at the same four chromosomal sites Some of these disorders may also be more interrelated in terms of their genetic dispositions than others. If these findings are further researched and replicated successfully, it could mean that people could go through genetic screening to see if they are carriers for specific mental illnesses, which could greatly enhance preventative care.
ReplyDeleteHowever, one thing that this article didn't discuss in depth was that these disorders are often developed from nature AND nurture...yes, genetic tendencies do play a large role in someone's liklihood of getting a disorder, but they don't tell the whole story. Environmental factors play a huge role and the intersection of how much is environmental and how much is genetic would be something scientists should look into.
I think that the idea of normal is, unfortunately, formed off of the media and the image they present. After seeing celebrities like Amanda Bynes go crazy and the news reporting speculations that she is a schizophrenic, people can't help but form an opinion against a mental disorder like that. Like mentioned before, ADHD and depression are a different story. Now a days it's almost "cool" to have ADHD because the use of adderall is so common on campus. Depression is often something that can be private and hidden so its not noticeable to the general public. I do have friends who are depressed or have ADHD and do not look at them any different then I would my "normal" friends. However, the different symptoms and ways a persons personality is affected when they have something like autism or schizophrenia can make it hard to have a functioning relationship with them. If I myself had a genetic variation that effected the way in which I go about life in a negative way, of course I would change it given the chance. No one wants to live with a disorder. I especially would jump at the chance to eliminate it from my genes so that it would not be passed on to my children. However, if I had a genetic variation that did not have any negative consequences and was not harmful then I wouldn't see a need to change it.
ReplyDeleteIt makes sense that genetic variations are predispositions for mental illness. However, having the genes that are more likely to cause a mental illness does not necessarily mean a person is guaranteed to develop one in their lifetime. That is where the diathesis-stress model comes in which reveals the relationship between biological factors and environmental triggers in contribution to the development of a mental illness. I can understand why many people in the world would rather not form or keep relationships with people who have schizophrenia, autism, or bipolar disorder. On the other hand, I, personally, do not think I would let a friendship go if the person developed a mental disorder; I am saying that partially due to the fact that I do have people in my life who have what are considered to be more serious disorders. Also, if I knew a person had a genetic variation that can bring about a mental disorder, I would not avoid them or act differently with them. Mental illness is never someone’s fault, and I think that if I had a serious disorder then I would not want to be alienated and treated differently. This idea is why I would make it a point to not let myself treat anyone else differently if they suffer from any mental illness. All of that being said, I can see why one would want to change their genetic variation if it implied development of mental illness. It does not make sense to potentially suffer due to a mental illness when one could live a much more stable life. However, I do not think that I would change my genetic variation to manipulate whether or not I develop mental illness. I do think that I would consider changing my genes to “normal” because of the idea of passing this on to my children and the possibility that they could develop a mental illness and therefore might be a target for alienation and judgment in society.
ReplyDeleteMost of these disorders are neurological and are also correlated with inherited genes, it makes sense that these neurological problems are highly correlated with each other.
ReplyDeleteHowever what did surprise me was their findings...
"The study revealed that the overlap is highest between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder; moderate for bipolar and depression, and for ADHD and depression; and low between schizophrenia and depression"
The reason why this was a surprise for me is because scientists are able to quantify which neurological disorder have more correlation with each other. The findings also suggest that depression could be more of a "nurture" rather than genetics, "nature".
Also, keeping a friendship with someone who has a neurological disorder would be difficult since it would be hard to maintain. My opinion would change if my friend has a neurological disorder only because I may have to be careful with my speech as well as not to be offended too easily.
If I were to change my genes to prevent risk or chances of schizophrenia, ADHD, or bipolar disorder I would. If being normal is defined as having an improved life without neurological obstacles then I believe it is worth the trouble of actually manipulating my genes.
The findings in this article are interesting and not too surprising. It makes sense that mental disorders have genetic linkages due to variation. One issue with this article is that environmental factors on genetic variation are not addressed. Sure, someone could have a potential risk for mental disability based on his or her genetic makeup, but that does not mean they will end up living with the disability. As we know, epigenetic and environmental influences can change genetic expression, and therefore the predictability of inheriting a mental disability is more complicated than a simple genetic test.
ReplyDeleteThe findings in this article, however, should not affect our treatment of the people who have mental disabilities. I completely agree with Danielle, who said that our efforts should be put toward better support for these individuals who live with a mental disorder, rather than focusing on which disorders show similar genetic origin. The question of whether you would want to switch your genes to "normal" already categorizes people who do have the disorder as abnormal, which is discrimination. Obviously no one would choose to live with a mental disorder. I find it offensive that someone would "look down" at those who do have a mental disorder, as if they had a choice in the matter. Although it may be important for scientists to determine inheritance patterns and "potential risk" for future generations, it is massively more important to me to protect and respect those who need support for their mental disabilities.
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ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how science is bringing us closer and closer to answers for the questions we have been stuck on. The fact that we have now linked five mental illnesses to the same genetic variations at four chromosomal sites is extraordinary. This advancement in science is astounding, and is one that we should be proud of. This will allow us to look more closely at mental illnesses, and to determine how best we could help those struggling with these illnesses.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Rachel in that "mental illness is never a person's fault." These scientific findings help support this idea by contributing hard evidence for how exactly genes play roles in mental illness. There is definitely something going on at the genetic level, something that individuals are not responsible for, that is affecting people's mental health. However, it is also important to keep in mind that environmental factors can ALSO affect people's mental health, just as Sarah pointed out.
I, myself, would not let gene variations change my opinion of people. I am very cautious in approaching people and interacting with them. It takes a while for me to let people in, and for me to embrace them as friends. Therefore, something that happens at the GENETIC level, something that we have no control over, will not affect my opinion of people. The way people express themselves is how I understand them, and is how I know them. The genetic variations do not define who they are: their behaviors define who they are. Since I am basing my friendships on people's personalities and their behaviors, what their GENES might say will not affect how I treat them.
There are mental health issues in my family, so I probably DO have a genetic variation in my genes that predisposes me to mental illnesses. This is why I would not judge people on what their genes say. People are making friends on a social level, not on a biological level. Therefore, genetic variations should never get in the way of friendships. In addition, there is more to life than just nature; nurture is really important as well. The way mental illnesses affect people also depends on how they express and manage themselves. You are responsible for how you live your life. Just because you have some variation in genes, does not mean you MUST act a certain way. So even if I had this genetic variation, I would not change it to "normal." Normal is a social construct: it is what people deem as socially appropriate. I would not change who I am just to fit myself into that social construct. My genes make me unique, so I do not want that to be taken from me. It might make it more difficult to fit in and to live, but it makes me who I am. If it affects me, so be it! It will only make me stronger when I overcome the things I might go through because I am "not normal." It will help me become more resilient.
I was actually surprised to learn through this article that the five major mental illnesses discussed are traceable to the same genetic variations. It is encouraging that mental illnesses seem to be inheritable because this will lead to opportunities of possibly pinpointing exactly what is causing these mental illnesses and discovering ways to reduce the incidence of these illnesses.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, our society created the idea of "normal" when in actuality, none of us are truly normal. It is the sad truth that people who have the mental illnesses explained in the article are looked down upon as inferior members of society because they do not fit the mold of how we have been trained to expect a person to behave. If one of my friends was diagnosed with a mental illness, I would do my best to be understanding, but I think many other people would be hesitant to continue the friendship because they would not want to be associated with someone "weird". And if I, myself, had one of these genetic variations, I would absolutely take the opportunity to reverse it because I am aware of the harsh stigmas that surround mental illness.
The study of genetic variations that cause mental illness is very important in order to educate the population about what actually causes these impairments. The idea of "normal" is one that is forced upon us from a very young age, but it is important to understand that a mental illness does not mean that one is not "normal". Hopefully, with continued research and education on the subject, the stigma associated with mental illness will be reduced, and those living with these illnesses will have the opportunity to live a life free of judgment.
The way our genes interact to create a unique phenotype is a miraculous and almost unfathomable phenomenon. Furthermore, to think that our genetic makeup only differs by .1%, yet we are all possess distinct qualities and traits that make us one of a kind is beyond amazing. Because our view of genetic material has greatly transformed since the completion of the Human Genome Project, I am not surprised that scientists have found that some of the major mental disorders are linked to similar genetic variations. Currently, it is understood by most scientists that certain mental disorders are inherited or cause an increased predisposition. In addition, it is well known that many people with mental disorders experience comorbidity, meaning that they experience two or more disorders simultaneously. Therefore, many mental illnesses already present as linked. This new information only further solidifies the association by revealing a genetic component.
ReplyDeleteDespite this new discovery, I doubt society will be quick to change the stigma it places on mental illness. Unfortunately, we live in a world where anyone we deem “not normal” is automatically discriminated against. I think the real problem lies in our definition of “normal.” What if many of us have this genetic variation, but our epigenome functions to prevent the expression of this “abnormal” phenotype? As genetic research continues to uncover new mysteries embedded in our genes, I am certain that “normal,” as we know it, will be redefined.
The correlation among schizophrenia, biopolar disorder, depression, and ADHD isn't surprising. All four are mental diseases and I could definitely understand why there would be some genetic overlap. However, it is interesting to see these correlations coming to fruit through physical, genetic evidence.
ReplyDeleteIn a future world I could definitely see a stigma forming around those with genetic variations that are unfavorable. If possible, a large majority would probably want to remove such variation because raising children with mental disorders is a challenge. However that is not to say genetic research should be stopped. Humanity as a whole should not only be progressing it's scientific knowledge, but it's moral code as well. Hopefully society will adapt in a positive way to genetic technology as it continues to grow.
It is interesting that the same inherited genetic variations cause five mental illnesses. That being said, it makes sense that genetic variations are prone to different illnesses. It is true that people who suffer from a mental illness, such as schizophrenia are sometimes discriminated against, however, that shouldn’t be the case. There shouldn’t be a stigma against people who have a mental illness. I don’t think people will truly understand what it means to have a mental illness until they develop one. It will dramatically change their lives and some relationships will change. That doesn’t mean they have to change for the worse, but naturally, some people are going to treat a person with a mental illness differently. If I knew someone had a variation in these genes my opinion would not change of them. Just because they carry the genes, doesn’t mean they will develop the disease. Regardless, I am not going to change my relationship with someone because they develop a disease or illness.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to observe the correlations between these 5 mental disorders, in respect to where they come from. It makes sense to me that there could be this kind of link considering that these are all mental illnesses, even though these disorders are so different. I feel like genetics will eventually play a role in more acurate diagnosis of pstchiactric/mental diseases because the article says, "Such evidence quantifying shared genetic risk factors among traditional psychiatric diagnoses will help us move toward classification that will be more faithful to nature." I think if we could learn exactly what the genetic overlap of these disorders is and learn which factors distinguish them it would be very helpful in diagnosis. From what I know about mental disorders I feel like they can sometimes be hard to diagnose because there's a sort of continuum of symptoms that overlap between illnesses, and each patient can vary greatly in symptoms. That being said, I think further research needs to be conducted to move forward with this knowledge and to try to apply these findings.
ReplyDeleteBut I disagree with the stereotype based on the fact that these variation are "not normal." If anything, variation is very normal. Mutations happen all the time and add to the diversity of the human genome. Saying that these variation to cause an illness are not normal and therefore should be looked down upon is simply wrong.
This article did not come as a surprise to me. I have always thought that all illnesses were because of certain "defects" of our genes. I put defects in quotes because some mutations actually have benefits such as the immunity to HIV in patients with sickle cell anemia. I have also known that our genes are somewhere around 98% identical to each other and hence we heavily rely on the epigenome to create our unique traits. So, therefore, this article did not surprise me when it stated that mental illnesses were traced to the same genetic inheritance. What did surprise me was the overlap in genetics factors leading to ADHD and depression. I never would have though that the same genetic variations could lead to ADHD and to depression because they seem so different.
ReplyDeleteIf I happen to have one of these mental illnesses and there was a cure, I would most likely get cured. People today that are diagnosed with ADHD already have medication available to them. Others can barely notice the difference between them and any other person. As for being "normal", I believe that there is no one person that is "normal". We are all different and although we share similar traits and characteristics, we should not label a certain one better than another. This would lead to what many geneticists fear, Ugenomics. Also, genetic variation is beneficial to society because mutations that occur in a certain race are more likely to occur if there is reproduction solely in that race due to the more likely that each parent is a carrier.
This particular issue hits very close to home for me. One of my closest friends and roommate for the past three years discovered she has bipolar disorder shortly after we moved into our first apartment. After knowing someone who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder it is fascinating to me to learn that this is linked directly to her genetic variation. The question of whether I would remain friends with someone if I found out they had a genetic variation in their genes is easy for me to answer. Yes, I would. Ultimately, this variation doesn't change who the person really is. It adds an aspect to their personality that they must struggle with and can often be quite a burden on their friends. However, I believe we all have stuff that we have to deal with and fight through and just because someone has a genetic variation that labels their "stuff" doesn't all of a sudden make them not normal. Despite the fact that we are all 99.99% identical in our genetic make-up, the .01% that is different creates massive differences between all people. We can't afford to cut off everyone that has a genetic variability that may cause them to be a difficult friend. Knowing that someone has a genetic disposition to develop a mental disability isn't going to change how I feel about that friend as a person. I will still love them and want to be there for them in their difficult times. That being said, there are points where a person suffering from a mental disability can start to become so self destructive and detrimental to the people around them that you are forced to cut your ties. This, however, I don't consider to be simply because of their genetic variation, but because of their lack of discipline in taking care of themselves mentally. To me it is like a person with diabetes, they must take extra precautions to keep themselves physically healthy, a person with a mental disorder must do the same to keep themselves mentally healthy.
ReplyDeleteNow to answer the question about if I discovered I had the genetic variation and had the option to change my genes to "normal", the answer is absolutely yes, without a doubt! Again, to me that seems like asking if you had the option to change your genetic variation so that you no longer had cancer would you do it? We all want our lives to be as easy as possible and living with a mental disorder that causes depression, or difficulty focusing etc does not make life easier. It is something that I believe anyone can learn to live with and learn to be successful, but it certainly isn't something I would desire.
To be completely frank, I probably would not willingly associate myself with someone who is schizophrenic or had another serious mental issue, unless they were someone in my family and whom I loved. I have many friends who could be clinically diagnosed as having depression or ADHD. As mentioned numerous times above, the criteria for diagnosis seems to be pretty lax, so it is not at all surprising to know people who have one of them, or both.
ReplyDeleteI also know a handful of people with autism, especially children, and although they do require a different set of social cues than most others, they are still people with whom you can be friends with; they just need a lot more work.
If I did have the possibility of changing my genes to "normal", I would do it in a heartbeat, as I'm sure almost everyone else would.
This article is not too shocking, as it has been well documented that many of these mental illness can be partly inheritable. The close association between some of them is what surprised me. For example, the 9% overlap between schizophrenia and depression was something I was not expecting, as they seem to be on opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of intensity.
I find this research to be interesting and provide hope for a greater breakthrough in the future. Now discovering that there is a link between these inherited genetic variations to these common mental illnesses, although the degrees of the link between certain disorders vary, hopefully there may be a chance for a cure or more effective treatment for all these disorders so that they are less common amongst people. If I had known someone who had a variation of these genes, I would not disregard our friendship or look down on them. I think I would choose to be more sensitive or considerate to how their feeling and how they would prefer to be treated. I would think that discovering that your friend has a mental illness (like Schizophrenia or depression) or had a variation of these genes, it's not a time to abandon them but to be there and support them. I know in severe cases of these mental disorders, people can be difficult to deal with so that may affect friendships, but if you put the effort to get them the help they need then things can be different. And of course if I had the option to change my genes to "normal," I would because I would not want my severe mental illness to be a burden to my family and friends and affect their daily lives.
ReplyDeleteJamie, and other students, bring up very interesting points about the basis of diseases that manifest themselves psychologically. While it's somewhat comforting to know that there is a concrete cause to such horrible afflictions, knowledge of genetics only brings us part of the way. We may never, as a society, be able to completely eradicate the things that plague peoples' minds. Equal effort needs to be placed in researching genetic causes of disease, acquired causes of disease (such as different lifestyles, traumas, social determinants), and on lessening the stigma of disease. Too often we see in the news that lives are lost, unnecessarily, because of the mistreatment of people with psychological disorders. Rather than thinking of "normal" versus "not normal", we need to view humanity on a spectrum, where differences are valued and appreciated, because they provide our society with an engine that allows us to evolve and prosper.
ReplyDeleteHowever, even with that in mind, the fringes of this "spectrum" are arguably not-desirable. It's different wish that you liked to read more, or that you were better at math, or were better at learning different languages, then it is to wish that you could have schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or chronic depression. But we cannot view the individuals that are fated with these disorders as a plague to society. They can often fight through their illness and add great value to the communities they live in. If society can stop thinking of them as "not-normal", we will benefit. Understanding the genetic components of these disorders is incredibly important, but it does not solve the puzzle.
First off, I think it is amazing that we can pinpoint specific mutations in genes to mental illnesses, and that different illnesses have overlap in these mutations. I do not think that knowledge about a friend having a variation in these genes would change my perception of them, or our friendship or prospect thereof. If there are similarities, and common interests that drew us together as friends in the first place, knowledge of a genetic variation shouldn’t change that. They are no different than the person they were before knowledge of the variation. It is very difficult to provide answers in situations involving “ifs” especially when you have no experience with one of the alternatives.
ReplyDeleteAlthough completely different, one of my friends in high school had partial paralysis on the left side of her face, and she spent most of her life upset because of that because she didn’t view herself as “normal”. When she got to high school she was presented with the possibility to have a procedure to “correct” this, she decided against it because the partial paralysis was so ingrained in who she was that she didn’t want to change it. All that to say that the illness could become a huge part of who you are.
Since this is much different than a physical difficulty, but a mental and emotional one I think that I would be much more likely to seek ways to change the gene to “normal” as bad as that sounds.
This study is new to me so I found it very interesting how five major illnesses are traced to the same inherited genetic variation. It definitely seems to make sense because these five illnesses are quite similar. However, I feel that epigenetics would play a role in how these illnesses differ. Regardless, I personally would not look down on a person with a mental disorder. What we define as "normal" in today's society depends on many factors. I don't think anyone is "normal." Everyone is different in their own ways. Just because someone has a mental illness doesn't mean they aren't normal. Sometimes actions done by others can be considered normal or abnormal depending on different people. I would not change my opinion of my close friend just because he or she had a genetic variation.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, I think it is great that illnesses that were once ignored or even just misunderstood by the general public are now at the forefront of investigative research - and we are not looking for a 'cure' but more understanding. It is clear that the diagnosis of these illnesses is not clear cut, you only have to travel from one side of the US to the other to see the variation in the prevalence and nature of ADHD. Maybe the elusive nature of these disorders is what has categorized them as 'abnormal' and the way to eradicate such public discomfort around the illnesses is education.
ReplyDeleteI think the fact these five genetic illnesses have been linked to the same inherited genetic variation is interesting as a lot of the features and symptoms of these disorders overlap, so when a patient was once labelled as a 'schizophrenic', future diagnosis (and more importantly medication) is not so readily given out and we can start to treat patients in a holistic manner in the hope for better treatment by looking at the 'bigger picture'.
If I could change my genetic make up to eradicate an inheritance like this I think I would. The severity of these problems can cause major issues and I think the goal of all clinicians should be to help tame any negative symptoms. If a close friend of mine was found to have this genetic inheritance I wouldn't change my opinion... I'd already made my mind up about them before this was discovered.
While this article’s title was catchy and thought-provoking, I found the research to be inconclusive at best. The numbers thrown out as statistics were cited from questionably reliable sources and did not conclusively validate what the flashy headline indicated. I find the link between the five illnesses to be incredibly interesting, due not only to the inherent possible connections but also due to my family history. However, I was disappointed by the lack of evidence. It is very simple to claim a link, but to prove it is substantially more difficult. Even so, the advances in genetic knowledge and information seem to be somewhat promising. I think it would be in everyone’s best interest to discover what genes or mutations contribute to predisposition or inheritance of disease, especially with such terrible mental afflictions such as schizophrenia.
ReplyDeleteThe way in which our genes code for and express different traits is incredible. After reading this article, I must admit that I wasn’t too surprised that certain mental were linked to similar genetic variations. We learned in class that the deletion, change in sequence, or overall loss of maternal contribution of the UBE3A in chromosome 15 that is passed down to the child can lead to the child having Angleman Syndrome. However, if this loss of contribution of that same UBE3A in chromosome 15 was passed down from the paternal side, it can result in the child having Prader-Willi Syndrome. If a defect in the same area of the chromosome can cause two different syndromes, I am not really surprised that certain mental disorders can be linked to similar genetic variations. What did surprise me was how much they believe that certain disorders are linked together over other ones. I would have agreed with the researchers’ initial guesses of a significant overlap between autism and ADHD. However, their results showed that the highest overlap occurred with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, while ADHD overlapped more with depression.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with Nicole in saying that ADHD and depression seem to be more “normalized” in our society today. However, people who have mental disorders like schizophrenia, autism, and bipolar disorder are often treated differently. I have had friends who are diagnosed with ADHD and are treated the same as everyone else while those who are diagnosed with bipolar disorder are thought of as weird and even crazy. I, and most probably many others, say that the opinion of people wouldn’t/shouldn’t change if their mental disorders were to become evident to me (or other people). However, we often misconstrue that idea into just avoiding poking fun at or treating people with mental disorders badly. I feel that this doesn’t fully cover the idea of changing one’s opinion about someone with a mental disorder. Even pitying people with mental disorder can be seen as treating them differently. Now I can’t speak for those with mental disorders, but if I were to have one, I would feel uncomfortable if people were constantly feeling sorry for me or walking on eggshells around me when talking about certain topics or doing certain activities. I would just want to be treated the way everyone else was being treated. I would want to be defined by what I am and what I do, not by the mental disorder I have. I honestly think that if I was given the chance to change my genes so that I did not have a genetic variation that caused a mental disorder, I would take it. However, I would hope that if this was not a possibility, I would be able to live with it and not let it be my crutch.
The article for this week explaining how five major mental illnesses are traced to the same genetic variations. Although this is a great discovery, I do feel like it was something that has already been theorized and discussed about. Most of these mental illnesses somehow correlate with the brain function so their source of problems stems from a central location. What was interesting to me was the overlap betweenWhat did surprise me was the overlap in genetics factors leading to ADHD and depression. It is quite surprising that the same genetic variations could lead to ADHD and to depression. To answer the question in regards to being friends with someone who had these variation, I would say yes. But, I answer this question with a lack of experience. I have never had a friend who was diagnosed with any of these disorders so I do not know what it would feel like. With that being said, I am not the kind of person to be distant due to an uncontrollable diseases. At the end of the day we are 99.9% similar and we can relate to one another in different forms.Although that difference in genetic variation makes a huge difference, it does not have to in the value of your friendship and the relationship you may have with a person who has that genetic variation. To address the question on whether or not I would change my genes to normal if I had the genetic variation, I would also have to say yes! I believe any individual would , if they had the chance to. I would change my genes to normal because I do not want to be dependable on others to live my life. I would cause an undue burden on my family members and if I could save them from any financial and emotional struggle, I would do it.
ReplyDeleteI think it is amazing how scientists can track five mental illnesses back to the same genetic variations. Mental illnesses, such as Schizophrenia, have such a negative connotation in today's society that it can be very hard not to think of someone differently. However, I think that if a close friend of mine had these genetic variations, I would not judge them differently unless they were to start acting differently or if their actions were to start affecting me in a negative manner. Without a tangible change in their personality, I would absolutely not distance myself from a friend just because of the knowledge of a genetic variation.
ReplyDeleteIf I were to find out that I had been affected by a genetic variation, I would change my genes back to 'normal' if that were a possibility. I would not want a mental illness negatively impacting my life, and if possible, I would do everything I could to prevent this.
I think this article poses an interesting and concerning ethical issue for future geneticists, physicians, and their patients. The article gives support to the idea that mental illnesses are not individual traits or variations but rather different expressions of a singular gene. If this is true it could radically alter the scope of psychology and mental health interventions. It is a pandora's box kind of finding because it opens up a million questions. For example, if the same gene that causes schizophrenia also causes autism, and we know that autism is more prevalent in women that have children later in life, does this mean that the gene is modified through some measure of epigenetic to create different symptoms? And if this is the case, what do we tell mothers that are likely to pass on this gene? Is it better to wait (and thus increase the chances of autism) or have a child earlier (and thus increase the chances of schizophrenia)? Obviously these are not direct conclusions from this article but the connection between these disorders raise many ethical considerations. I also think this article challenges the lines that separate normal from abnormal. Some mental illnesses, such as anxiety or even depression, are seen as "more acceptable" or "treatable" in the public eye than other disorders such as schizophrenia, manic-depressive disorder, or drug addictions. If these disorders are expressed through the same gene than how can we, as the public, delineate between these disorders? I also wholeheartedly disagree with a few of my peers. I would not necessarily change my gene or encourage a friend to alter their genes if they found out they had this gene. I think there is a huge misconception concerning the possible quality of life for people with any of these disorders. Many people with these disorders have fulfilling lives and just because they do not match mainstream definitions of successful does not make them any less, it just makes them different. These disorder will not necessarily make someone fully dependent family members nor will they necessarily cause extreme burden. In short, I would not change my genes because having a mental illness does change the course of life but it does not define the quality of life.
ReplyDeleteVanessa Merta
ReplyDeleteLike many of my classmates I found this article not very surprising, but still interesting. It is true that society has normalized some mental health disabilities, and ostracized others. Disabilities like ADHD and depression seem as common as having blue eyes, while bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are really only commonly seen in movies and TV shows. Working in a pharmacy, I see the normalcy of Prozac and Adderall and the slight stigma that comes with the different drugs for schizophrenia. When I hear that a friend is on some anti-depressant or Adderall, I am not uncomfortable, if anything I want to get more involved in that relationship. There is a difference with the "not normal" disabilities, which can be unsettling to hear about. Because of this, if I was ever diagnosed with one of these genetic variations and there was a way to fix it, I would. Some other students have made the argument that fixing the variation is wrong or unnecessary because having a mental disability doesn't define you as a person. While I do agree with the fact that a disability doesn't make you who you are, if you are willing to take medications to control it, there should be no reason against taking the next step and removing it all together.
The article is interesting, it announces that 5 major mental illnesses are traced to have the same genetic variation. It provides a broad layer of inspection as to what this could mean for the future: better classification, diagnostics and more research. However the article still remains inconclusive. Yes, there may be connections to schizophrenia and depression, but what next? Perhaps the next best thought is how to regulate these genes being highlighted. Just like in the agouti gene discovery, perhaps their may be a way to turn on or off these genes preventing further progression of the mental illness.
ReplyDeleteIf someone close to me had one of these overlapping genetic variations, yes my opinion of them would change, but not in any belief of them being "normal" or "abnormal". It wouldt change in perspective of how I would treat them. For example, if someone close to me had a genetic susceptibility towards schizophrenia, I would understand he or she may also have an imbalance in regulating their serotonin and dopamine in the brain. With this knowledge, I would be careful not to overexcite or bring up any memories intertwined with emotions (perhaps easier said than done.) But when it comes down to it the genetic overlap is nothing more than a susceptibility.
Taking the information from the article and from the blog prompt, I would conclude that my opinion would not change about someone I know if I found out that they had these altered genes. I do not think that we should judge someone based on genotype, but rather their behaviors. If I am friends with someone who I already like, this is not going to change how I feel about them. However, there may be someone that I don’t like and likewise I would not start to like them if I found they had these gene variations. Similarly, if I found out that I had these gene alterations, I would not let that change how I feel about myself and I would not attempt to “normalize” them. This can go to show how much epigenetics can play a role in one’s life. For example, someone may have these genetic variations but not exhibit any of the symptoms. It makes me wonder how much of a role just knowing this information could contribute to someone exhibiting the conditions such as depression.
ReplyDeleteI feel this furthers the nature v nurture debate. The influence of epigenetic factors is the one thing that is most important, and should not be forgotten when taking gene expression into account. Some of the disorders caused by this overlap in heritability have an adult onset. The genetic variation may cause an increase in susceptibility, but in these cases of adult onset, there measures that can be taken to decrease the likelihood of actually developing one of the disorders mentioned in the article. For example, if I were to discover my genome expressed some of these variants, I could begin to practice coping or meditation methods proved to positively alter the hormonal chemistry in my brain. I am in no way arguing that these methods can cure depression or bipolar disorder, but they could potentially be preventative in some way. My opinion of someone with these variations would only be that they would have to be more introspective and emotionally aware than others if they would like to recognize and/or manage symptoms if they were to ever appear. Coping and other forms of treatment to improve well-being is a much less normative approach than trying to change someone.
ReplyDeleteThis blog post makes me think of when girls would ask their friends "If I was _____ would you stil be my friend?" Implying that if they had strange characteristics, features, or disorders their friends would not accept them.
ReplyDeleteIt is very strange how such different disorders have similar gene variations. If I knew someone close to me that was diagnosed with one of these, it would not change my opinions about them. I don't like the word "normal" because I don't understand what exact characteristics apply to it. Everyone is different and everyone is unique so I believe that despite someone having a disorder, they should be treated equally and fairly as everyone else. If I was diagnosed with a disorder, I don't think that I would seek to alter my DNA because I believe everything happens for a reason. I believe people can still live a beautiful and fulfilling life with a disorder.
I found this article very interesting, as did many of my classmates. Society's tolerance has definitely improved in regards to certain mental illnesses, such as autism and ADHD, but unfortunately, others such as schizophrenia are still considered "abnormal." However, I wouldn't let that bet he deciding factor in any of my friendships. If my friend developed a mental disorder, I would want to be more involved and try to help them, not cut them off entirely. That would be cruel and judgmental. Therefore, my opinion of them would definitely not change. It may be harder to get rid of the stigma accompanied to the more un-normalized mental disabilities, but I would try my hardest not to let those stigmas affect my relationship with said friend.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I would also definitely not urge them to change their genes to remove the disability. I feel like that is a more personal issue and up to them to decide. However, personally, if I were to find out that I had the genes for mental disabilities, I would probably go ahead and fix it. I agree with what Vanessa said above: "if you are willing to take medications to control [your mental disability], there should be no reason against taking the next step and removing it all together." I wouldn't want to have a mental disability, nor would I want to have to deal with controlling it. So I might as well just get rid of it altogether. It's the most logical and efficient choice.
Its something I haven't really thought about much but I found it very interesting that our genomes are all so similar and that genes in certain mental illnesses overlap. The fact that the five mental illnesses are linked together by the same genetic variations is incredible. Being able to pinpoint these illnesses specific variations will be helpful in both diagnosing and learning more for possible earlier detections. Being able to look at the genetic makeup of a person in order to directly diagnose someone with an illness will be extremely beneficial seeing as detecting some of these illnesses are not easy.
ReplyDeleteIf I was ever put in a situation where I had the chance to change into being considered "normal" I think would go forth with the cure. Though I do not believe in the term "normal", there are so many stereotypes against mental illnesses and it is just such a hard path to live, I believe I would.
If I possessed the genetic variation that caused any of these mental disorders, I would probably opt to change my genes to normal. However, I would not take this decision lightly. It is a huge decision, and while the benefits would be great, it is quite possible that there would be some negative effects associated with making the change. I would have to know more about the procedure itself, as well as the associated risks in order to make the decision in good faith. Also, opting to change your genes has a great deal of ethical implications, so considering the morality of the situation would be important.
ReplyDeleteI am fairly certain that the decision to change my genes in this situation would be considered moral because it would involve gene therapy rather than gene enhancement. Gene therapy involves bringing a person up to a baseline normal state in an effort to provide the individual with equal opportunity in society. Changing a genetic variation that causes a major mental illness such as schizophrenia certainly seems to fall into the “gene therapy” category, so this would likely be considered a moral decision. If the disease was less severe, such as mild ADHD, and did not effect my social opportunities (with my career or my social acceptance), it would be much more difficult to justify changing my genetic variation to normal. Some would argue that those with mild ADHD are pretty much normal, and that accepting the act of enhancing normal traits is consistent with values associated with eugenics, which is deeply immoral.
Another consideration is that it is possible that having a severe form of some of these disorders would interfere with my ability to make a rational, autonomous decision about whether I would want to change my genes to normal. For example, if I were severely autistic, it is doubtful that I would be capable of weighing the costs and benefits of changing my genes to “normal”.
It was pretty astonishing to read that these five conditions can be linked to a single mutation. I have known people who know that one of these disorders runs in their family but rarely more than one. I was surprised to learn that presence of this particular mutation accounts for such a high risk for these various disorders. It would be interesting to see more studies done regarding this particular mutation. These various conditions seem like they would be completely unrelated but this one mutation links them, which is fascinating. As with other genetic mutations we know that presence of this particular gene would not guarantee the presence of any of these disorders and regardless I would never change my opinion of someone based on their genetic makeup. I am sure we all have mutations that could be deemed undesirable.
ReplyDeleteThe notion of “normal” is relative. Something is normal when it conforms to the majority. Over the years what is normal changes. For example, until a couple of years ago whites or Caucasians use to be the majority in the US, but now what had been collectively considered the minorities are the majority. When it comes to genes and mutation, I would not judge someone differently if they had an unnormal mutation. If I knew this information, I may suggest that see a mental health professional if their mood begins to change. In they end, I would not think of them any differently, because the normality of these mutations are relative. Furthermore, the artlice said that, “[t]hese variations account for 17-28 percent of mental illness risk,” which suggests that most people with these mutations will not even develop these mental illness. I thought it was really interested how the risk of some of the mental illness and their genetic heritability over lapped. Personally, if possible, I may consider altering my genes because I would not want the live with a disease that could drastically change my mental status and would challenge those around me. At the same time, I would be hesitant about changing that genetic piece, because I don’t know what else it could effect.
ReplyDeleteIt is very interesting that there is genetic link among these 4 illnesses. The scientific research is astounding however, the goal to make classification “more faithful to nature” this pursuit might lead to stricter diagnostic criteria, which might fail to recognize the spectrum qualities of mental illnesses like autism. If I knew someone who had a variation in these genes, my opinion of them would not change. Firstly because the genes do not equate to mental illness and secondly because a mental illness would not affect my opinion of people who are close to me. If I had a genetic variation and could change them to “normal” I most likely would but only because our society has stigmatized mental illness and made living with them much more difficult, which should be the goal of the public to change those views.
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