Genetics Research

30 Pages 7576 Words

brain at work, to examine its structure and activity, without the need for surgery or other invasive procedures. These techniques include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). There is evidence from imaging studies that the brains of people with bipolar disorder may differ from the brains of healthy individuals. As the differences are more clearly identified and defined through research, scientists will gain a better understanding of the underlying causes of the illness, and eventually may be able to predict which types of treatment will work most effectively.
Still, scientists caution, no single genetic determinant for the condition exists - and environment plays a key role.
DNA & Behavior: The Topic In-Depth
by Sally Lehrman
(Originally published in November 1998)
Behavioral geneticists say that our genes “hard-wire our personalities” and the best thing to do is to get used to it. They also say that the environment plays an important role, and people c...