A)One other biological explanation is genetics. A considerable amount of research has been
conducted into researching whether certain genes may be responsible for schizophrenia. This
implies that schizophrenia may be inheritable and therefore allows for families to be informed
about relatives who may develop schizophrenia.
Tiwari et. al. (2010) conducted a meta-analysis and so collated a lot of data about the influence
of genetics in the development of schizophrenia. For example, the 22q11 deletion within a gene
was found to result in psychotic symptoms similar to those of schizophrenia. Furthermore, a
copy number variant in the Xq23 region of the chromosome has been found in 52% of cases of
schizophrenia. This is supported by Kirov et al. (2008) which found 13 copy number variants in
93 patients with schizophrenia however these were not found in 372 controls. Collating data
increases the reliability of the findings and so the conclusions drawn from them as they are
backed up by study evidence. However, there has also been research which may contradict
these findings such as the fact that only about ⅓ of schizophrenic patients have a family history
of genetics.
However, twin studies provide strong evidence for genetics (nature) in schizophrenia compared
to environment (nurture). For example, Gottesman and Shields (1966) found a high
concordance rate of 42% in monozygotic twins compared to 9% in dizygotic twins, indicating a
link between genetics and schizophrenia. Despite this, the study relied on hospital records of
schizophrenia diagnoses and did not clearly define what disorders they researched as
schizophrenia has a large range of symptoms (could possibly be other schizoaffective disorders
or comorbid with other conditions). Additionally, the concordance rate is not 100% which shows
that schizophrenia can not be entirely explained by genetics.
Overall, there is strong evidence for the role of genetics and how certain mutations to an
individual’s genome may result in the development of schizophrenia. As not all research is able
to agree to the extent in which genetics may be responsible for schizophrenia, it is likely to be a
factor which can give an individual a higher predisposition of developing schizophrenia along
with other factors (such as socioeconomic background as explained by Social Causation
hypothesis).
conducted into researching whether certain genes may be responsible for schizophrenia. This
implies that schizophrenia may be inheritable and therefore allows for families to be informed
about relatives who may develop schizophrenia.
Tiwari et. al. (2010) conducted a meta-analysis and so collated a lot of data about the influence
of genetics in the development of schizophrenia. For example, the 22q11 deletion within a gene
was found to result in psychotic symptoms similar to those of schizophrenia. Furthermore, a
copy number variant in the Xq23 region of the chromosome has been found in 52% of cases of
schizophrenia. This is supported by Kirov et al. (2008) which found 13 copy number variants in
93 patients with schizophrenia however these were not found in 372 controls. Collating data
increases the reliability of the findings and so the conclusions drawn from them as they are
backed up by study evidence. However, there has also been research which may contradict
these findings such as the fact that only about ⅓ of schizophrenic patients have a family history
of genetics.
However, twin studies provide strong evidence for genetics (nature) in schizophrenia compared
to environment (nurture). For example, Gottesman and Shields (1966) found a high
concordance rate of 42% in monozygotic twins compared to 9% in dizygotic twins, indicating a
link between genetics and schizophrenia. Despite this, the study relied on hospital records of
schizophrenia diagnoses and did not clearly define what disorders they researched as
schizophrenia has a large range of symptoms (could possibly be other schizoaffective disorders
or comorbid with other conditions). Additionally, the concordance rate is not 100% which shows
that schizophrenia can not be entirely explained by genetics.
Overall, there is strong evidence for the role of genetics and how certain mutations to an
individual’s genome may result in the development of schizophrenia. As not all research is able
to agree to the extent in which genetics may be responsible for schizophrenia, it is likely to be a
factor which can give an individual a higher predisposition of developing schizophrenia along
with other factors (such as socioeconomic background as explained by Social Causation
hypothesis).
