The BBC has a news story on the genetics of a disorder called trichotillomania (compulsive hair-pulling) that typifies the way genetics discoveries are reported in the media.
First sentence:
Scientists have identified gene mutations responsible for a psychiatric disorder that causes people to compulsively pull their own hair.
Way down the article:
Dr Allison Ashley-Koch, who also worked on the study, said numerous other genes were likely to contribute to the condition. She said: “The SLITRK1 gene could be among many other genes that are likely interact with each other and environmental factors to trigger trichotillomania and other psychiatric conditions.
No prizes for guessing which is the most accurate and which makes the best headline copy.
In almost any news story you read that says ‘gene found for psychiatric disorder X’ read ‘a gene has been identified which seems to explain some of the risk for developing X’ – unless it specifically says otherwise.
Link to BBC News article ‘Hair pulling disorder gene found’.
Link to more information on trichotillomania.
Mind Hacks 