Sex Chromosomes and Crime
Authors: J. R. E.
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1968)

Editorial Notes1 August 1968Sex Chromosomes and CrimeJ. R. E.J. R. E.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-69-2-399 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptThe association of abnormal complements of sex chromosomes (aneuploidy) with antisocial behavior is becoming well established. The criminal who does not have the normal pattern (male XY or female XX) poses some interesting and difficult problems in causation of abnormal human behavior and the definition of legal responsibility for human conduct.The story of this association goes back to 1962 when Court Brown (1) in Scotland, and Forssman and Hambert (2), a year later in Sweden, reported an unusually high prevalence of sex-chromatin positive males among inmates of institutions for mentally ill or retarded criminals. A majority of such sex-chromatin...References1. COURT BROWN WM: Sex chromosomes and the law (letter). Lancet 2: 508, 1962. CrossrefGoogle Scholar2. FORSSMANHAMBERT HG: Incidence of Klinefelter's syndrome among mental patients (letter). Lancet 1: 1327, 1963. CrossrefGoogle Scholar3. CASEYSEGALLSTREETBLANK MDLJDRCE: Sex chromosome abnormalities in two state hospitals for patients requiring special security. Nature (London) 209: 641, 1966. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. MACLEANMITCHELLHARNDENWILLIAMSJACOBSBUCKTONBAIKIECOURT BROWNMC-BRIDESTRONGCLOSEJONES NJMDGJPAKAAGWMJAJAHGDC: A survey of sex-chromosome abnormalities among 4,514 mental defectives. Lancet 1: 293, 1962. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. JACOBSBRUNTONMELVILLEBRITTAINMCCLEMONT PAMMMRPWF: Aggressive behaviour, mental sub-normality, and the XYY male. Nature (London) 208: 1351, 1965. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. CASEYBLANKSTREETSEGALLMCDOUGALLMCGRATHSKINNER MDCEDRLJJHPJJL: YY chromosomes and antisocial behavior (letter). Lancet 2: 859, 1966. CrossrefGoogle Scholar7. PRICEWHATMORE WHPB: Behavior disorders and pattern of crime among XYY males identified at a maximum security hospital. Brit. Med. J. 1: 533, 1967. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. COURT BROWNPRICEJACOBS WMWHPA: Further information on the identity of 47, XYY males. Brit. Med. J. 2: 325, 1968. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. LEFFSCOTT JPPD: XYY and intelligence (letter). Lancet 1: 645, 1968. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar10. COURT BROWN WM: Genetics and crime. J. Roy. Coll. Physicians Lond. 1: 311, 1967. MedlineGoogle Scholar11. WIENERSUTHERLANDBARTHOLOMEWHUDSON SGAAB: XYY males in a Melbourne prison. Lancet 1: 150, 1968. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar12. WELCHBORGAONKARHERR JPDSHM: Psychopathy, mental deficiency, aggressiveness and the XYY syndrome. Nature (London) 214: 500, 1967. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar13. TELFERBAKERCLARKRICHARDSON MADGRCE: Incidence of gross chromosomal errors among tall criminal American males. Science 159: 1249, 1968. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar14. LYONS RD: (a) Genetic abnormality is linked to crime. N. Y. Times, April 21, 1968; (b) Ultimate Speck appeal may cite a genetic defect. N. Y. Times, April 22, 1968. Google Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byCatalytic transformations of sulfur dioxide into organic sulfur compoundsThe YY Chromosome Complement 1 August 1968Volume 69, Issue 2Page: 399-401KeywordsAneuploidyBehaviorChromosomesCrimeHuman sexual behavior ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 August 1968 PDF downloadLoading ...