• US research links adolescents' low grades with dopamine genes ‎
    17 replies, posted
[quote]LOS ANGELES, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Variations in dopamine gene may play a role in the poor academic performance of adolescents, a new study suggests. To determine the genetics' impact on academic success, researchers at the Florida State University performed their groundbreaking analysis using DNA and lifestyle data from a representative group of 2,500 U.S. middle- and high-school students who were tracked from 1994 to 2008 in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. The findings showed that the academic performance of adolescents will suffer in at least one of four key subjects -- English, math, science, history -- if their DNA contains one or more of three specific dopamine gene variations. For instance, the researchers found a marginally significant negative effect on English grades for students with a single dopamine variant in a gene known as DAT1, but no apparent effect on math, history or science. In contrast, a variant in the DRD2 gene was correlated with a markedly negative effect on grades in all four subjects. Students with a single, DRD4 variant had significantly lower grades in English and math, but only marginally lower grades in history and science. "We found that as the number of certain dopaminergic gene variants increased, grade point averages decreased, and the difference was statistically significant," said lead researcher Kevin M. Beaver, a biosocial criminologist at the University. "For example, the GPA of a student with specific variants of three dopaminergic genes might be around 2.8, versus a GPA of around 3.3 without the variants. That could mean the difference between being accepted into a college versus being rejected." "Unfortunately, we know that students with lower GPAs are generally more likely to participate in antisocial or criminal activities, and less likely to attend college and earn comparatively higher salaries as a result," said Beaver. The researchers also uncovered a correlation between the variants of dopamine genes that a student possessed and his or her GPA in different subject areas. The research sheds new light on the genetic components of academic performance during middle and high school, and on the interplay of specific genes and environmental factors such as peer behavior or school conditions. "We believe that dopaminergic genes affect GPA because they have previously been linked to factors associated with academic performance, including adolescent delinquency, working memory, intelligence and cognitive abilities, and ADHD, among others," Beaver said in the study published in the latest issue of the journal Intelligence. "So, the genetic effect would operate indirectly via these other correlates to GPA and school performance," Beaver added. But the researchers noted that genetic liability for low GPA could be moderated by environmental conditions such as school structural characteristics, teacher performance, or behavior of other students. "If that is true, then findings such as ours could help lead to more effective, innovative ways of enhancing school and individual performance," Beaver noted. [/quote] [url]http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/sci/2010-09/06/c_13479655.htm[/url]
This article is poorly written, it mentions nothing of the effect of dopamine production that is affected by these factors. Such as X variation of dopamine production effects Y set of behaviors.
So in the future students might need to give a DNA tests so it can determined how much attention/encouragement they need? This is defintiely an interesting breakthrough.
So the article is saying that people who are lacking in certain subjects are flawed? I find that with more research on human genetics is done, the more they say that negative behaviours or traits are because there are not perfect.
[QUOTE=Cows Rule;24662968]So the article is saying that people who are lacking in certain subjects are flawed? I find that with more research on human genetics is done, the more they say that negative behaviours or traits are because there are not perfect.[/QUOTE] Except dopamine levels (and therefore grades and achievement) can be changed by drugs such as Ritalin.
[QUOTE=FreeThinker;24663145]Except dopamine levels (and therefore grades and achievement) can be changed by drugs such as Ritalin.[/QUOTE] I gotta take some of that, for some reason I've been doing shitty lately. [b]REALLY SHITTY.[/b] And I haven't changed anything in my life one bit. Damnit, now I can't remember that psyduck emote. I really am buggered.
[QUOTE=DireAvenger;24663336]Damnit, now I can't remember that psyduck emote. I really am buggered.[/QUOTE] Seek help.
I honestly wonder who will buy that bullshit. Some people would be GENETICALLY PREDISPOSED to bad grades and crime? Might as well start a company that claims they can change our DNA to make us born with these skills while we're at it. (Before the flaming starts, I am well-aware that it's now how it works. It's just to point out how silly this link is. They're essentially claiming that your fate is almost decided upon your conception.) They should seriously try to find a scapegoat and face it: the real problem resides in poor parenting and the lack of resources to help the students.
[QUOTE=Killerhurtz;24663535]I honestly wonder who will buy that bullshit. Some people would be GENETICALLY PREDISPOSED to bad grades and crime?.[/QUOTE] You can never say that simply because you got an apple you got applepie. It's a contributing factor.
[QUOTE=Killerhurtz;24663535]I honestly wonder who will buy that bullshit. Some people would be GENETICALLY PREDISPOSED to bad grades and crime? Might as well start a company that claims they can change our DNA to make us born with these skills while we're at it. (Before the flaming starts, I am well-aware that it's now how it works. It's just to point out how silly this link is. They're essentially claiming that your fate is almost decided upon your conception.) They should seriously try to find a scapegoat and face it: the real problem resides in poor parenting and the lack of resources to help the students.[/QUOTE] You're a very selective reader, aren't you.
[QUOTE=Kagrs;24663609]You can never say that simply because you got an apple you got applepie. It's a contributing factor.[/QUOTE] I don't know if it is, but if it really is, explain to me HOW it can make someone more likely to fail SPECIFIC classes. It's not like the universe makes a difference between them; it's information. Sure, they are processed by different parts of the brain, but can dopamine really incapacitate only a part of the brain enough to cause a SPECIFIC class to be insanely hard to the student? Wouldn't it affect the rest of the brain too? As for the link to criminality, I think it's a semi-proven point: bad grades and criminal activity in teenagers often go hand-in-hand (Notice, OFTEN. It is not an absolute.) [QUOTE=animephreak135;24663915]You're a very selective reader, aren't you.[/QUOTE] Perhaps. I'm rather reactive to this subject.
[QUOTE=Killerhurtz;24663535]I honestly wonder who will buy that bullshit. Some people would be GENETICALLY PREDISPOSED to bad grades and crime? Might as well start a company that claims they can change our DNA to make us born with these skills while we're at it. (Before the flaming starts, I am well-aware that it's now how it works. It's just to point out how silly this link is. They're essentially claiming that your fate is almost decided upon your conception.) They should seriously try to find a scapegoat and face it: the real problem resides in poor parenting and the lack of resources to help the students.[/QUOTE] So you don't think that some people are born smarter than others? Or some people are born more aggressive or whatever? [editline]12:25PM[/editline] [QUOTE=Killerhurtz;24664000]I don't know if it is, but if it really is, explain to me HOW it can make someone more likely to fail SPECIFIC classes. It's not like the universe makes a difference between them; it's information. Sure, they are processed by different parts of the brain, but can dopamine really incapacitate only a part of the brain enough to cause a SPECIFIC class to be insanely hard to the student? Wouldn't it affect the rest of the brain too? [/QUOTE] Nope. You use different part of the brain for maths than you do for language.
[QUOTE=Killerhurtz;24664000]I don't know if it is, but if it really is, explain to me HOW it can make someone more likely to fail SPECIFIC classes. It's not like the universe makes a difference between them; it's information. Sure, they are processed by different parts of the brain, but can dopamine really incapacitate only a part of the brain enough to cause a SPECIFIC class to be insanely hard to the student? Wouldn't it affect the rest of the brain too? As for the link to criminality, I think it's a semi-proven point: bad grades and criminal activity in teenagers often go hand-in-hand (Notice, OFTEN. It is not an absolute.) Perhaps. I'm rather reactive to this subject.[/QUOTE] Dopamine levels are highly correlated with the ability to concentrate, that's why dopamine level increasing drugs are helpful to people with ADD/ADHD and can be used to boost concentration and therefore grades, as this study found.
Oh great, now people are gonna ask for my ADHD medication. :sigh:
[QUOTE=Killerhurtz;24663535]I honestly wonder who will buy that bullshit. Some people would be GENETICALLY PREDISPOSED to bad grades and crime? Might as well start a company that claims they can change our DNA to make us born with these skills while we're at it. (Before the flaming starts, I am well-aware that it's now how it works. It's just to point out how silly this link is. They're essentially claiming that your fate is almost decided upon your conception.) They should seriously try to find a scapegoat and face it: the real problem resides in poor parenting and the lack of resources to help the students.[/QUOTE] I don't see why this idea is so silly. It makes sense to me.
Cocaine, meth/amphetamine, ritalin, 2-DPMP,MDPV and so on incerase dopamine levels. But using drug everyday is just not good, as nothing side-effect free. But it ain't just dopamine, and if you have to much dopamine flooding in your brains, you can get psychotic aka schizophrenia and so on... Oh, and if person has stronger dopamine release naturally, it will have stronger desire for drugs.
[QUOTE=Killerhurtz;24664000]I don't know if it is, but if it really is, explain to me HOW it can make someone more likely to fail SPECIFIC classes. It's not like the universe makes a difference between them; it's information. Sure, they are processed by different parts of the brain, but can dopamine really incapacitate only a part of the brain enough to cause a SPECIFIC class to be insanely hard to the student? Wouldn't it affect the rest of the brain too? As for the link to criminality, I think it's a semi-proven point: bad grades and criminal activity in teenagers often go hand-in-hand (Notice, OFTEN. It is not an absolute.) [/QUOTE] You're so retarded. Try and write a symphony, see if you are creative enough, some people are predisposed to certain courses of action, that doesn't mean they have to be followed, but genetics are a contributing factor to this sort of stuff dude and you'd be an idiot to say "lol herp DNA and genetics don't mean shit durrr hurr" Perhaps. I'm rather reactive to this subject.
[QUOTE=sp00ks;24664087]So you don't think that some people are born smarter than others? Or some people are born more aggressive or whatever? [editline]12:25PM[/editline] Nope. You use different part of the brain for maths than you do for language.[/QUOTE] Except in case of mental handicaps (which affect ALL brain activities), no I don't believe in someone being born smarter. However I know that depending on the surroundings and circumstances, people's brain can develop more or less, which creates the gap. And that I was aware. But it's not like the brain is fed by a thousand different tubes. It's all fed by the same circulatory system, the same heart. That's why I'm having a hard time believing single, individual parts can be affected by this. [QUOTE=FreeThinker;24664492]Dopamine levels are highly correlated with the ability to concentrate, that's why dopamine level increasing drugs are helpful to people with ADD/ADHD and can be used to boost concentration and therefore grades, as this study found.[/QUOTE] See, that I have no problem. What I specifically have problems with is the specificity of what's affected. [QUOTE=bravehat;24664930]You're so retarded. Try and write a symphony, see if you are creative enough, some people are predisposed to certain courses of action, that doesn't mean they have to be followed, but genetics are a contributing factor to this sort of stuff dude and you'd be an idiot to say "lol herp DNA and genetics don't mean shit durrr hurr" Perhaps. I'm rather reactive to this subject.[/QUOTE] Thanks for the judgement. A symphony, though, isn't the best of examples; writing a symphony doesn't involve only the brain, ear sensitivity to noise is also a part of being a good musician. I don't think people are predisposed from birth, rather their very early education and experiences shape the brain to predispose them. I'm pretty sure if they did an experiment where they raised hundreds of children from lots of different places but with roughly the same experiences will perform almost exactly the same (the little differences being in the subtleties of the experiences received, as two people cannot live experiences exactly the same way). But again, it's just my opinion, and it might be just me. I just think that it doesn't make sense.
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