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Your behaviour, genetics, and the environment

15 June 2021 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied

Zurika Murray says the study of Behavioural Genetics at the UFS focuses on human behaviour, specifically neurotransmitter systems, such as serotonin that may contribute to specific behavioural patterns.

Hi. I am John. I have anger issues.

Just like John, there are thousands of South Africans with anger issues, often leading to violent crimes such as the more than 21 000 murder cases and 165 000 plus assault cases reported in 2020, according to a study by the South African Police Service and Statistics South Africa.

Aggression can be a great threat to society when it leads to violence. However, it can also be an absolute necessity when it leads to perseverance and a drive towards success and survival. This is according to Zurika Murray, a lecturer in the Department of Genetics at the University of the Free State (UFS), who is doing research on behavioural genetics.

Behavioural genetics

She explains behavioural genetics as a study of genetic variation contributing to how an organism interacts with and within its environment. “At the UFS, we focus on human behaviour, and specifically neurotransmitter systems, such as serotonin that may contribute to specific behavioural patterns.”

When one has the right amount of serotonin in your body, it is easier to have stable moods and a sense of well-being.

She says the neurotransmitter (which plays a role in, among others, emotional regulation) acts as a mediator, relaying messages and influencing response to environmental stimuli. “This system is very adaptable, facilitating our functioning in an ever-changing emotional environment; but when dysfunctional, it can cause quite a number of abnormalities, from anxiety and depression to dysfunctional impulse control and violence. When some individuals are exposed to adverse developmental environments such as abuse and neglect, they can develop aggression and violence.”

“One of our current projects looks specifically at male juvenile delinquency and monoamine neurotransmitter systems (such as serotonin) that may contribute to specific characteristics (such as impulsivity) of delinquency.”

According to Murray, their research is also looking at the genetic variation within specific neurotransmitter genes to see if they could find similarities among individuals with similar developmental backgrounds. “This neurotransmitter system additionally responds relatively well to physical activity as a management strategy for aggression in some individuals. We are looking at variations in this system that might explain this,” says Murray.

Genetic counselling

Apart from the genetic contribution, we also know that the developmental environment plays a very important role. Many people observe anger while growing up – it was thus part of their developmental environment. For them, it is appropriate behaviour in specific situations.

To understand this contribution from the developmental environment, a background in psychology is necessary. The undergraduate degree in Behavioural Genetics at the UFS has Genetics and Psychology as majors, and this is where the link to genetic counselling comes in.

Murray explains that genetic counselling is a field in medical sciences focusing on helping patients affected by medical conditions to understand the underlying genetics. For individuals with a family history of genetic conditions (such as specific cancers) or pregnant mothers with foetuses affected by genetic abnormalities (such as Down syndrome), the services of a genetic counsellor are invaluable. A genetic counsellor will help these individuals understand the cause of the disorder, how it was diagnosed, what the symptoms are, what the progression will look like, if any treatment is available, and what the possible options are (if any) for alternatives.

Genetic counsellors need a strong background in both Genetics and Psychology. To become a registered genetic counsellor, a student completes a BSc degree in Biological Sciences (Behavioural Genetics at the UFS would be ideal). Thereafter an honours degree in either Genetics or Psychology (though Genetics is preferable). The student can then apply at either the University of the Witwatersrand or the University of Cape Town for a master’s degree in Genetic Counselling. This entails two years of study, followed by two years of practical internship. Only after this you will be able to register with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as a genetic counsellor.

Students studying Behavioural Genetics at the UFS are off to a great start. Murray’s teaching philosophy is to always strive to deliver students who are better than she is. “I can only really do this by sharing my passion for my research. I hope to inspire my students to also always be hungrily curious, to always question, and to find the joy in knowledge and learning.”

News Archive

African Student Affairs Conference a huge success

2011-05-24

Mr Rudi Buys, UFS Dean of Student Affairs, Mr. Folabi Obembe, Managing Director of Worldview International, Ms Birgit Schreiber, Director of the Centre for Student support services at the University of the Western Cape, Dr. Augustinah Duyilemi, Dean of Student Affairs at the Adekunleh Ajasin University in Nigeria, Dr. Christina Lunceford, assistant Director for the Centre for Research on Educational Access and Leadership at California State University in America, and Prof. Cecil Bodibe, student affairs veteran and consultant.
Photo: Earl Coetzee

The African Student Affairs Conference (ASAC), which took place on our Main Campus last week, was a major success, with two days of lectures and discussions and two pleasant social gatherings, where delegates had the opportunity to get to know each other.

The conference, hosted on African soil for the first time, and co-hosted by the University of the Western Cape (UWC), started on Wednesday 18 May 2011 with an informal welcoming session. Delegates got to meet each other and Mr Rudi Buys, UFS Dean of Student Affairs, explained the meaning of South African words like "kuier" and "lekker'.

The official start of events took place on Thursday 19 May 2011, in the Reitz Hall in our Centenary Complex. The conference was attended by delegates from universities across the continent and aimed to place the focus on issues relating to student affairs in an African context.

Delegates shared and exchanged strategies, ideas and resources, and discussed issues related to the work of student affairs professionals. The conference hoped to promote an exchange of best practice and assist attendees in identifying successful programmes.

Among the topics discussed on the first day, were “Constructing Post-Conflict Democracy on campus: a case study of transformation of student governance and political engagement as post-conflict intervention”, by Mr. Buys, and a discussion on ways in which social and online media can be used to ease the challenges of student interaction, development and support, by Ms Birgit Schreiber, Director of the Centre for Student Support Services at UWC.

A panel discussion, led by Mr Buys and several members of our Interim Student Council (ISC), discussed the specific challenges faced at the UFS. The importance of buy-in from role-players in decisions taken by University management in order to ensure their success, was discussed, using the UFS and our recent changes as an example.

The successful integration of residences on campus inevitably came under the spotlight and the recently resolved Reitz-saga was named as a catalyst in getting students less apathetic and more involved in attempts at creating racial and social harmony.

Dr Christina Lunceford, Assistant-Director of the Centre for Research on Educational Access and Leadership at California State University, presented a paper entitled A National Approach to Building Capacity in Student Affairs in South African Higher Education.

She commented on the fact that there is little or no philosophical framework or explicit theory that informs practice of student services in South Africa.

According to Dr Lunceford, student development should be a key concern for every department or unit within student services and emphasized the need for a centralized student development unit at each university.
She also touched on the need for institutions to implement support from international student affairs professional associations, professional development for student affairs practitioners, the utilization of technology to support professionals in the field, and working with international partners to explore future opportunities, as ways in which student affairs can be used to drive performance and change at universities.

The conference continued in the Scaena theatre on Friday 20 May 2011, with presentations by Dr Augustinah Duyileme, Dean of Student Affairs at Adekunle Ajasin University in Nigeria, and Prof. Bobby Mandew, Executive Director of Student Affairs at the University of Johannesburg (UJ).

Dr Duyileme presented a paper on the challenges faced by Nigerian universities with regard to student conflict and protests, which often turn violent, and how such violence can be curbed through proper planning and management.

Prof. Mandew presented a very well-received presentation on UJ’s successful off-campus housing initiative, which involves home-owners and business owners in the areas surrounding their campuses.

Their approach demonstrated how proper planning can prevent problems associated with over-population in private homes and conflict with neighbours of the university, usually related to an influx of students into residential neighbourhoods.

This problem is faced by many universities, as more and more students flock to universities on the continent and campus residents cannot accommodate them.

The conference came to a close on Friday, with most delegates agreeing that the exchange of knowledge which took place was extremely valuable.

Ms Deborah Lahlan, of Nigeria, said: “This is an important conference for Africa and it should become a regular event.”

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