Jane Kelley wrote it for John Prather to answer..
  How about this one....
 JP>Once again, FAS is NOT AD(H)D either though it may have symptoms
 JP>similar to it.  As far as a mutant goes, I doubt that too.  Just
 JP>another case of selective breeding.
 JK> Just what in blue blazes do you think "selective breeding" is all
 JK> about, John, if not to attempt to provide some form of mutation or
 JK> change in the genetic makeup of some animal or plant?
I agree that selective breeding is the selective addition or
retraction of certain mutant strains in a species.  I doubt that the
adhd strain is recent though.
 JK> FAS is a specific set of symptoms usually caused by the mother's
 JK> ingestion of alcohol.  There are other symptoms that can be caused and
 JK> those which can be inherited along with other familiar traits.  One of
 JK> them is ADD or ADHD.  There are others such as dyslexia that run in
 JK> families with alcoholism.
 JK> I like the explanation that
 JP>AD(H)D folks with their quick reactions, act first think later
 JP>characteristics are throwbacks from hunter/gatherer roots.  The
 JP>ability to focus on a single subject without quiting is the trait of
 JP>a successful hunter.  ADHD folks are tough survivors, they just
 JP>don't fit into our current society.
 JK> And this can also be said of every genetic alcoholic.
What traits relative to genetic alcoholism would make it a survival
or desirable breeding trait.  Perhaps a tendency towards rape while
in a drunken tiff.  I understand that the absence of alcohol in the
American Indian's society makes them more sensitive to alcohol.  But
why the predeliction in western society where alcohol has been
consumed for 3 or 4 millinia.    Do you think this is simply a trait
we have bred out of our society.
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