Introduction

In the Beginning was the Genome: Genomics and the Bi-textuality of Human Existence

This paper addresses the cultural impact of genomics and the Human Genome Project (HGP) on human self-understanding. Notably, it addresses the claim made by Francis Collins (director of the HGP) that the genome is the language of God and the claim made by Max Delbrück (founding father of molecular life sciences research) that Aristotle must be credited with having predicted DNA as the soul that organises bio-matter. From a continental philosophical perspective I will argue that human existence results from a dialectical interaction between two types of texts: the language of molecular biology and the language of civilisation; the language of the genome and the language of our socio-cultural, symbolic ambiance. Whereas the former ultimately builds on the alphabets of genes and nucleotides, the latter is informed by primordial texts such as the Bible and the Quran. In applied bioethics deliberations on genomics, science is easily framed as liberating and progressive, religious world-views as conservative and restrictive (Zwart 1993). This paper focusses on the broader cultural ambiance of the debate to discern how the bi-textuality of human existence is currently undergoing a transition, as not only the physiological, but also the normative dimension is being reframed in biomolecular and terabyte terms.

The relationship between serotonergic function and the Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version

Reduced serotonergic (5-HT) neurotransmission has been reported in impulsive and aggressive personality disordered and offender samples. What is not clear is the relationship between 5-HT function and the North American construct of psychopathy assessed using the Psychopathy Checklist and its derivatives, which emphasizes the core interpersonal/affective as well as behavioural components of this syndrome. Fifty-one DSM-III-R personality disordered offenders who had a dynamic assessment of 5-HT function (prolactin response to 30 mg d-fenfluramine challenge) were rated on the Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version based on interview and file data. The Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version (PCL: SV) mean score in the sample was similar to other reports in European forensic samples. A three-factor structure best explained the PCL: SV data: arrogant/deceitful, callous-unemotional and impulsive-antisocial behaviour factors. 5-HT function did not correlate with psychopathy as a unidimensional phenomenon. The impulsive-antisocial component correlates negatively with 5-HT function while the arrogant/deceitful component correlates positively with 5-HT. In line with previous research findings, impulsive-antisocial conduct shows an inverse relationship with 5-HT function. Arrogant/deceitful traits correlate positively with 5-HT function and may be an adaptive component of psychopathy.