Date: August 28, 2009 (Friday)
Time: 12:30 – 14:00 (sandwich lunch from 12:30 –12:45; seminar begins at 12:45)
Venue: Seminar Room 1, G/F, Laboratory Block, Faculty of Medicine Building, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong

Abstract:

Behavior genetics is the study of genetic influences on individual differences in behavior. Most of the behaviors we study, from cognitive and personality factors that influence our decisions through to substance use and abuse, contribute to the risks for important health outcomes. This seminar will present examples from our twin, family, and adoption studies that have documented the extent of genetic influences on such behaviors. Studies of development and comorbidity show the importance of taking into account developmental changes in genetic and environmental influences, pleiotropic influences across many characteristics. The presentation will illustrate our data related to drug use and abuse and the concept of a generalized vulnerability to risky behavior, and discuss how this information is important for public health. There is great excitement about molecular genetic studies, using linkage and association methods, that aim to identify the individual genes contributing to the genetic risk, but there are many ways to get things wrong. Also, some cautionary tales as well as recommendations for successful research will be discussed.

Bio-sketch:

Dr Hewitt is the Director of the Institute for Behavioral Genetics at the University of Colorado, USA. He has research expertise on the use of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies of twins and families to study behavioral development, and genetic and environmental influences on behavior, personality, and health. His recent research focus on the development of behavior problems in childhood and adolescence, vulnerability to drug use, abuse, and dependence, genetics and health, and linkage and association studies of behavioral traits. Dr. Hewitt is also Executive Editor of the journal, Behavior Genetics.