Fit in your genes: an introduction to genes and epigenetics for forensic practitioners

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to provide a brief and accessible introduction to genetics and epigenetics for forensic practitioners. It provides two primers which define key genetic concepts and explain what epigenetic mechanisms actually are. The primers are provided alongside sections that focus on genetic research relevant to forensic practice, with a range of key messages that support the call to contextualise harmful behaviour and build better awareness of gene-environment relationships. Design/methodology/approach This is an opinion paper. Findings Select and seminal studies from the genetic literature that have forensic practice relevance are cited. These include studies from candidate gene research and epigenetic research. They highlight a number of key themes, including the way neurodevelopment and behaviour are contextually adjusted to fit certain environments, with epigenetic changes being an underpinning biological mechanism that facilitates this. Research limitations/implications This article aims to introduce forensic practitioners to basic concepts in genetics and epigenetics so that they are able to engage with the relevant literature and understand the far-reaching implications for forensic practice. Practical implications It is becoming increasingly useful for forensic practitioners to appreciate how life experiences are encoded into biology through epigenetics. This paper highlights the potential of genetic and epigenetic research to provide major contributions to real-world practice in the coming years. It provides a modern biopsychosocial perspective on harmful behaviour and helps deepen the understanding of our efforts to support behaviour change. It offers ways to think of social and rehabilitative initiatives in biological terms. Originality/value This paper is one of few modern texts that focusses on the relevance of genetic and epigenetic research in applied forensic practice. It aims to introduce relevant concepts in an accessible manor. It intends to introduce biologically informed ways of understanding harmful behaviour within context and with attention to its function. It contributes to a de-pathologising narrative.

Child and adolescent forensic evaluations: Challenges amid scientific and technological advancements.

“…It encourages the shift from labeling certain behaviors as “maladaptive” and categorizing personalities as “disordered,” to understanding these personalities and behaviors as edited according to the context in which they emerge. This editing is not necessarily pathological in the traditional sense, but rather demonstrates evolutionarily “ordered” and preprogrammed changes to neurodevelopment in response to an unfavorable environment (Walton, 2021). Furthermore, the use of neurobiological evidence in competency proceedings is on the rise (Greely & Farahany, 2019).…”

“…This occurs as the neurodevelopment of prosocial behaviors (e.g., conscientiousness, altruism, cooperativeness) is downregulated while the neurodevelopment of antisocial behaviors (aggression, callousness, impulsivity, recklessness, etc.) may serve an adaptive role within the context of such depraved conditions (Walton, 2021).…”

“…As the field progresses, it is imperative that practitioners of psychology, specifically experts conducting forensic evaluations of minors, understand the concepts of epigenetics. In doing so, forensic professionals may conceptualize cases and provide recommendations in their child and adolescent reports with the understanding of how experiences are coded on an individual’s biology and consequently reflected outwardly through behaviors and attitudes (Walton, 2021).…”

“…In forensic settings, it is essential that mental health professionals consider that epigenetic modifications are an evolutionary mechanism that allows the environment to modify the genome. In forensic practice, a juveniles’ behaviors are often assessed and described as maladaptive, but when epigenetics are considered, what is adaptive or maladaptive becomes context-specific (Walton, 2021). Practitioners should understand this interplay between the environment and gene expression to provide more accurate interpretations of data collected during an evaluation and more precise recommendations.…”