Vulnerability genes or plasticity genes?

Abstract

The classic diathesis-stress framework, which views some individuals as particularly vulnerable to adversity, informs virtually all psychiatric research on behavior-gene-environment (G × E) interaction. An alternative framework of differential susceptibility is proposed, one which regards those most susceptible to adversity because of their genetic make up as simultaneously most likely to benefit from supportive or enriching experiencesor even just the absence of adversity. Recent G × E findings consistent with this perspective and involving monoamine oxidase-A, 5-HTTLPR (5-hydroxytryptamine- linked polymorphic region polymorphism) and dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) are reviewed for illustrative purposes. Results considered suggest that putative vulnerability genes or risk alleles might, at times, be more appropriately conceptualized as plasticity genes, because they seem to make individuals more susceptible to environmental influencesfor better and for worse. © 2009 Nature Publishing Group.