Genes Archives - Brein in Action

Can you inherit homosexuality?

Peter Moleman31/05/2021Articles, Brain development, Genes and heredityLeave a Comment

I can still remember the commotion which arose in 1990 when Dutch neuroscientist Dick Swaab published an article saying that homosexual men had an area in their hypothalamus which was twice the size of the same area in heterosexual men. Many found the idea – that homosexuality might have a biological basis – quite alarming! At the time I worked … Read More

Autism is hereditary, but you don’t inherit autism

Peter Moleman13/02/2020Articles, Genes and heredity, Psychiatry2 Comments

Autisme is erfelijk, maar je erft geen autisme | Peter Moleman

The probability of having autism is greater for an individual if it runs in their family. This suggests hereditary factors. But what do you actually inherit? What you inherit is a predisposition for a specific development of your brain. This, together with what you experience while growing up, can lead to the development of a mild to severe form of autism.

The new crystal ball: predicting future disease

Peter Moleman03/10/2019Articles, Genes and heredity, PsychiatryLeave a Comment

Disease can be seen as the antechamber of death.
Are there reliable tests for predicting disease? The short answer is: not for Alzheimer’s or other common diseases. Tests do exist for some specific diseases, most with known familial predispositions, such as Huntington’s disease, cystic fibrosis, Duchenne’s dystrophy and many more.

Can you inherit homosexuality?

Autism is hereditary, but you don’t inherit autism

The new crystal ball: predicting future disease

The basis for most of the severe mental disorders is clear

Why are monozygotic twins not identical? Chance!

Nature and nurture: congenital and acquired

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