warrior gene

[ wawr-ee-er jeen, wawr-yer, wor-ee-er, wor-yer ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. a type A monoamine oxidase (MAOA) gene, in which the normal breakdown of the neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine is impaired, resulting in elevated levels of these brain chemicals, which have been linked to correspondingly elevated levels of aggressive behavior.

Word History and Origins

Origin of warrior gene¹

First recorded in 2000–05

Example Sentences

We have identified at least 11 instances in which a defense team sought to introduce “warrior gene” evidence, either to argue for a “not guilty” verdict or to push for conviction for a lesser crime to mitigate punishment.

From Washington Post

The genetic argument can cut both ways: In a death penalty appeals case in Texas involving Amos Joseph Wells III, who killed his pregnant girlfriend and two other people, Wells’s lawyers note that prosecutors turned the “warrior gene” defense against him.

From Washington Post

The rise and fall of the science underlying the warrior gene defense occurred in less than two decades.

From Washington Post

It declined to dig into the research and warn other courts across the country about the speciousness of the warrior gene theory.

From Washington Post

Yepez had sought at trial to introduce evidence that he had what’s been called the “warrior gene” — a version of a gene known as MAOA, which has been linked to violence in some studies.

From Washington Post