The assignment, this week, called for an analysis of an article in the Science & Technology section of a mainstream newspaper. I selected from The New York Times an article found under the Science section titled “In a Novel Theory of Mental Disorders, Parents Genes Are in Competition” by, Benedict Carey. The Article mentions a recent theory proposed by Bernard Crespi, a biologist at Simon Fraser University, and Christopher Badcock a sociologist at the London School of Economics. The theory on brain development links mental disorders to genetics, such as: autism and schizophrenia. The article proposes the researches present an argument along the lines of an evolutionary “tug of war” between the mother’s egg and the father’s sperm can cause the fetus to develop, genetically, altering attributes from the genetic codes. Crepsi and Badcock note, almost spectrum, opposite characteristics of autism and schizophrenia. Furthermore proposing a correlation between autism to the father and schizophrenia to the mother.
The coverage of this article did seem highly sensationalized. In part, I feel that the subject matter (all the scientific terminology and specific mentions of defects on particular chromosomes) would be difficult to analyze and critique without at least basic understanding of biology and genetics. The journalist did a good job of playing a custodian of fact role , because while Crepsi and Badcock were publishing journal articles about this- I feel the public was not aware and Carey informed the public of this upcoming theory.
Having taken some college level Biology recently (I am not expert but the small exposure to the subject is still fresh) I had some more questions that I did not feel Carey answered to the journalists full extent. Thus, I will be researching the published journal articles by Crepsi and Badcock later. I wanted to hear in greater detail about the “events other than mutations” Crepsi and Badcock believe change gene behavior. Also I could see were the researchers rationalized that the more emotion based mental disabilities correlated with the mother, but why must that mean the other social based disorders must come from the father?
The theory proposed is definitely new, and has much research to be further done, and many revisions in store on the theory. The journalist portrays well that, this theory while intriguing has uncertainties still, and does not yet discredit other explanations of autism and schizophrenia in place. However, Carey did not mention many limitations of the theory apart from the uncertainty. Nothing was mentioned as to how the researchers developed the theory, but there were enough comments on the matter by other, I would classify them as, informed individuals (other researchers at differing Universities such as Cambridge).
Overall I found this article informing, and to be a substantial article. Personally, the article has not only informed me of this new theory, but excelled my interest in it as well. Initially I did select this article due to my bias of having a family member with classic autism (a more severe autism on the spectrum than Asperger’s syndrome). The theory, I am still not certain of my feelings toward yet, due to an insufficient amount of knowledge. Especially since personality traits I believe are inherited through nurture not nature. However, Benedict Carey excelled in writing an intriguing article with substance. The article did not provoke interest at the expense of accuracy and drew attention to a potentially monumental not to mention important theory evolving in the science realm, which the public should be aware of.
Jessi
