Challenges That Face Behavioral Genetic Studies: Researchers Perspective from the MENA Region

Background: Behavioral genetic studies are important for the understanding of the contribution of genetic variations to human behavior. However, such studies might be associated with some ethical concerns. Methods: In the current study, ethical challenges related to studies of genetic variations contributing to human behavior were examined among researchers. To achieve the study purpose, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region researchers were taken as an example, where the aftermentioned ethical challenges were discussed among a group of researchers, who were the participants of an online forum. Discussions and responses of the participants were monitored and were later qualitatively analyzed. Results: Discussions revealed that several ethical challenges, including subjects’ recruitment, the difficulty of obtaining informed consents, and issues of privacy and confidentiality of obtained data as information leakage, in this case, will lead to social stigma and isolation of the participants and their immediate family members. Jordanian social and cultural norms, faith, and the tribal nature of the population were raised as a major challenge that might face conducting behavioral genetic studies in the Arab populations of the MENA. The lack of regulation related to the conduction of genetic studies, misunderstanding, and misuse of genetic information are other challenges. A full explanation of genetic research and the current and future possible benefits/risks of such research could be potential solutions. Conclusion: In conclusion, the MENA populations are tackled with major challenges in relation to conducting research studies in genetics/antisocial behavior field/s. Establishment of guidelines related to genetic studies, capacity building, increasing public awareness about the importance of genetic testing, and enhancing responsible conduct of research will facilitate the conduct of such sensitive studies in the future in the region.

Management of Bactrocera zonata (Diptera: Tephritidae) through Application of Different Tactics: A Review

Bactrocera zonata is the most destructive pest in tropical and subtropical regions. In this region, it is the most devasting fly, due to its high reproductive potential, mobility, host range, and adaptability to climate. Those countries which are considered as fruit-producing countries lose their international markets due to the quarantine regulations which are imposed to avoid the invasion of a fruit fly. For the management of B. zonata, the use of chemical insecticides against fruit fly is in practice for several decades which originate from environmental imbalance, diseases in humans and animals and develop resistance. Different methods are alternatives to chemical control, grouped into cultural, physical, behavioral, genetic, and biological control. In this review, we summarize all the control measures which can be used singly or in the integrated form with other measures to control the B. zonata.

Shared environmental influences on electronic cigarette use among adolescent and young adult females

Introduction Electronic cigarettes are now the most commonly used form of tobacco product among youth in the United States. Current evidence suggests that although e-cigarettes are perceived as less harmful and preferred over combustible cigarettes by adolescents, adolescents who try e-cigarettes are at greater risk of transitioning to combustible cigarettes. The genetic and environmental contributions to liability for e-cigarette use have not yet been examined using a behavioral genetic design. Methods Behavioral genetic models of lifetime and current e-cigarette use and friends who use e-cigarettes were examined among female monozygotic and dizygotic twins. Results A total of 41 female twin pairs (65.9% monozygotic twins; age = 19.7, SD = 1.6) with complete data on the study variables were included in the present analyses. The majority of the sample (68.1%) had at least some friends who use e-cigarettes. Additive genetic effects on e-cigarette use were not present, but the shared environment explained 98.7% of the variance in lifetime e-cigarette use, 96.6% in current e-cigarette use, and 94.9% in affiliation with friends who use e-cigarettes. Conclusion This first study on the behavioral genetics of e-cigarette use among adolescents and young adults suggest that environmental factors shared by twins within a family seem to play a predominant role in the initial stages of e-cigarette use, a finding that is consistent with what has been found for tobacco. The findings emphasize the importance of continuing population-based tobacco control interventions to reduce the burden of e-cigarette use among adolescents.

How nonshared environmental factors come to correlate with heredity

Conventional longitudinal behavioral genetic models estimate the relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors to stability and change of traits and behaviors. Longitudinal models rarely explain the processes that generate observed differences between genetically and socially related individuals. We propose that exchanges between individuals and their environments (i.e., phenotype–environment effects) can explain the emergence of observed differences over time. Phenotype–environment models, however, would require violation of the independence assumption of standard behavioral genetic models; that is, uncorrelated genetic and environmental factors. We review how specification of phenotype–environment effects contributes to understanding observed changes in genetic variability over time and longitudinal correlations among nonshared environmental factors. We then provide an example using 30 days of positive and negative affect scores from an all-female sample of twins. Results demonstrate that the phenotype–environment effects explain how heritability estimates fluctuate as well as how nonshared environmental factors persist over time. We discuss possible mechanisms underlying change in gene–environment correlation over time, the advantages and challenges of including gene–environment correlation in longitudinal twin models, and recommendations for future research.

How Nonshared Environmental Factors Come to Correlate with Heredity

Conventional longitudinal behavioral genetic models estimate the relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors to stability and change of traits and behaviors. Longitudinal models rarely explain the processes that generate observed differences between genetically and socially related individuals. We propose that exchanges between people and their environments (i.e., phenotype-environment effects) can explain the emergence of observed differences over time. Such models, however, require violation of the independence assumption of standard behavioral genetic models, that is, uncorrelated genetic and environmental factors (Beam & Turkheimer, 2013; de Kort, Dolan, & Boomsma, 2012; Dolan, De Kort, Van Beijsterveldt, Bartels, & Boomsma, 2014). We review how specification of phenotype-environment effects contributes to understanding observed changes in genetic variability over time and longitudinal correlations among nonshared environmental factors. We then provide an example using 30 days of positive and negative affect scores from an all-female sample of twins. Results demonstrate that the phenotype-environment effects explain how heritability estimates fluctuate as well as how nonshared environmental factors persist over time. We discuss possible mechanisms underlying change in gene-environment correlation over time, the advantages and challenges of including gene-environment correlation in longitudinal twin models, and recommendations for future research.