Explores the hypothesis that autism, learning disorders, alcoholism, drug abuse, depression, attention deficit disorder, and other disruptive behavioral disorders are increasing in frequency because of an increasing selection, in the 20th century, for the genes associated with these conditions.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
There seems to be un upward trend in the numbers of children and adults with attention deficit disorder, learning disabilities, anxiety, anger, and rage. The frequency of depression, suicide, crime, and related behaviors also seems to be increasing, as are the numbers of children dropping out of school, turning to drugs, alcohol, and violence. The causal factors are usually attributed to environmental factors and to the stress of an increasingly complex and technological society. In The Gene Bomb, Dr. David Comings proposes a persuasive new theory that just the opposite is occurring. He suggests that our increasingly complex society, with its requirement for more and more years of education, is selecting for the genes associated with these behavioral disorders, and that these genes are increasing and will continue to increase in frequency. Dr. Comings suggests that the critical factor is not just the number of children individuals have, but the age at which they have them, and that these undesirable behaviors are caused, in part, by genetic factors. He then demonstrates regardless of the behavior, individuals who have problems tend to have children earlier than those who do not, and that this can provide a powerful selective force for the genes involved. The dramatic difference in age at the birth of the first child is largely driven by the number of years of education. This factor has become significant only in the latter part of this century. The Gene Bomb has broad implications for public policy -- as well as the future of the human species! This is provocative and important reading for the social sciences; for educators; and for the general public. -- Midwest Book Review
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
From the Publisher
ADHD and Tourette Syndrome are Spectrum Disorders associated with a wide range of associated behavioral problems including learning disorders, dyslexia, oppositional defiant behaviors, depression and others. Dr. Comings reviews the epidemiological data indicating that these disorders are increasing in frequency and affecting people at a younger age. Each of these conditions has a strong genetic basis. The story is presented of why the dramatic increase in the number of individuals attending college in the later half of the 20th century may be resulting in the rapid selection for the genes causing these conditions. This important theory has broad implication for public policy - as well as the future of the human species.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
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When I was in grade school I was interested in all aspects of science. I found a set of The Book of Knowledge encyclopedias and read about evolution and all the geological epochs. It was possible to 'wind the tape' of evolution backward to single celled bacteria, and then still further to the beginnings of the universe. It seemed these probably came from something still simpler. Which was simpler, God, the most complex and complicated entity ever envisioned by man, or some still simpler sub-atomic precursors? The latter seemed far less complex. If God was chosen as the creator of everything, this still left the question who or what created God? The trouble with the God hypothesis is that it simply postponed finding the answer. I call this 'the problem of postponement.'
As I discuss in the Introduction of 'Did Man Create God?' I experienced considerable hostility whenever I repeated these thoughts with religious friends. I thus decided to not talk about it and just go on with life, which included attending the University of Illinois at age 16, entering Northwestern University Medical School at age 19, and obtaining my MD degree at age 23. I graduated from Medical School in 1958 and took a general internship, residency in Internal Medicine and Fellowship in Hematology at Cook Count Hospital, then the largest hospital in the world.
At the time I took hematology, so many exciting things were happening in the field of genetics that I decided to take a second fellowship in human genetics with Arno Motulsky at the University of Washington in Seattle. I subsequently became the Head of the Department of Medical Genetics at the City of Hope National Medical Center in Southern California where I remained for 37 years.
From 1968 until 1979 I was involved in both clinical genetics and basic research into human chromosome structure and DNA metabolism. In 1980 I undertook a major switch to become involved in the molecular and clinical genetics of human behavior especially relating to Tourette Syndrome (TS), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Conduct Disorder. From 1980 until retired I ran one the largest Tourette Syndrome-ADHD clinics in the world. In 1988 I began to compile my experience into an 800-page book entitled 'Tourette Syndrome and Human Behavior.' I set up Hope Press to publish it and numerous other books by other authors on the same subject. The TS book sold very well and was reprinted many times. It was called 'The Purple Bible on TS' by hundreds of mothers.
I viewed TS as a 'behavioral spectrum disorder' because is was associated with many other problem behaviors including attention deficit disorder, obsessive compulsive disorders, oppositional defiant disorder, and others. This, and my idea that all behavioral disorders were caused by the coming together of many different genes interacting with the environment (polygenic inheritance) initially caused much controversy and led me to write a second book entitled 'The Search for the Tourette Syndrome and Human Behavior Genes.' This is no longer so controversial since virtually everyone in the field now agrees that TS and ADHD are polygenic behavioral spectrum disorders.
My third book, 'The Gene Bomb' was written to try to explain why ADHD and other behavioral disorders including autism, seem to be increasing in frequency. By the time I retired from the City of Hope Medical Center at the end of 2002 I had written over 470 scientific papers. The writing of 'Did Man Create God?' came about after I retired from the City of Hope Medical Center. It was a result of my childhood fascination with evolution, religion, God, and 'the problem of postponement' and my adult fascination with genetics, behavior and the human brain. Many further details about the book and a listing of all my publications can be found at www.didmancreategod.com.
As I discuss in the Introduction of 'Did Man Create God?' I experienced considerable hostility whenever I repeated these thoughts with religious friends. I thus decided to not talk about it and just go on with life, which included attending the University of Illinois at age 16, entering Northwestern University Medical School at age 19, and obtaining my MD degree at age 23. I graduated from Medical School in 1958 and took a general internship, residency in Internal Medicine and Fellowship in Hematology at Cook Count Hospital, then the largest hospital in the world.
At the time I took hematology, so many exciting things were happening in the field of genetics that I decided to take a second fellowship in human genetics with Arno Motulsky at the University of Washington in Seattle. I subsequently became the Head of the Department of Medical Genetics at the City of Hope National Medical Center in Southern California where I remained for 37 years.
From 1968 until 1979 I was involved in both clinical genetics and basic research into human chromosome structure and DNA metabolism. In 1980 I undertook a major switch to become involved in the molecular and clinical genetics of human behavior especially relating to Tourette Syndrome (TS), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Conduct Disorder. From 1980 until retired I ran one the largest Tourette Syndrome-ADHD clinics in the world. In 1988 I began to compile my experience into an 800-page book entitled 'Tourette Syndrome and Human Behavior.' I set up Hope Press to publish it and numerous other books by other authors on the same subject. The TS book sold very well and was reprinted many times. It was called 'The Purple Bible on TS' by hundreds of mothers.
I viewed TS as a 'behavioral spectrum disorder' because is was associated with many other problem behaviors including attention deficit disorder, obsessive compulsive disorders, oppositional defiant disorder, and others. This, and my idea that all behavioral disorders were caused by the coming together of many different genes interacting with the environment (polygenic inheritance) initially caused much controversy and led me to write a second book entitled 'The Search for the Tourette Syndrome and Human Behavior Genes.' This is no longer so controversial since virtually everyone in the field now agrees that TS and ADHD are polygenic behavioral spectrum disorders.
My third book, 'The Gene Bomb' was written to try to explain why ADHD and other behavioral disorders including autism, seem to be increasing in frequency. By the time I retired from the City of Hope Medical Center at the end of 2002 I had written over 470 scientific papers. The writing of 'Did Man Create God?' came about after I retired from the City of Hope Medical Center. It was a result of my childhood fascination with evolution, religion, God, and 'the problem of postponement' and my adult fascination with genetics, behavior and the human brain. Many further details about the book and a listing of all my publications can be found at www.didmancreategod.com.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This book is on the mark.,
By Jarek (Califonia USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Gene Bomb: Does Higher Education and Advanced Technology Accelerate the Selection of Genes for Learning Disorders, Adhd, Addictive, and Disruptive Behaviors? (Paperback)
This book opens my eyes to a fundamental problem in our society, those without learning disabilities and disruptive behaviors go to college or trade school delaying the birth their children with these desirable genes. Those with significant behavioral problems and gene for addiction have many children early in life. The book is by a top geneticist in the field of genetics and learning disorders.
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first sexual intercourse, gene selection point, alcoholism score, adolescent problem behavior syndrome, cognitive class, dysgenic effect, percentile group, disruptive behavioral disorders, chronic motor tics, initiating sexual activity, women attending college, lifetime frequency Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, The Bell Curve, Tourette Syndrome, Hereditary Spectrum Disorder, Young Women, The Free Press, Archives of General Psychiatry, Data Archive, Year Figure, University of Essex, Years Figure, Los Angeles, Mature Women, Sexual Behavior, Without Genetic Testing, Average Score, Grade Point Group, Variable Var, National Longitudinal Studies, New Zealand, Percentile Figure, College Grad Grad, Teen Attitudes About Getting Pregnant, Percent of White, Coefficient Amphetamines Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
first sexual intercourse, gene selection point, alcoholism score, adolescent problem behavior syndrome, cognitive class, dysgenic effect, percentile group, disruptive behavioral disorders, chronic motor tics, initiating sexual activity, women attending college, lifetime frequency Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, The Bell Curve, Tourette Syndrome, Hereditary Spectrum Disorder, Young Women, The Free Press, Archives of General Psychiatry, Data Archive, Year Figure, University of Essex, Years Figure, Los Angeles, Mature Women, Sexual Behavior, Without Genetic Testing, Average Score, Grade Point Group, Variable Var, National Longitudinal Studies, New Zealand, Percentile Figure, College Grad Grad, Teen Attitudes About Getting Pregnant, Percent of White, Coefficient Amphetamines Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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