Family tragedy behind gene work

Marino Lea says her husband Rod's work could benefit their two sons.

Marino Lea is Maori of Ngati Rakaipaaka descent and understands the burden of genes.

She was 21 when cancer killed her mother. Then, a few years later it claimed her brother, who was 32. Ms Lea has lost count of the number of times she has taken the trip from her Lower Hutt home to the whanau marae in Nuhaka near Wairoa because cancer has claimed another member of her extended family.

Ms Lea is also the wife of Dr Rod Lea, a genetic epidemiologist at the Institute of Environmental Science and Research in Wellington, who this week attracted controversy by telling an Australian genetics conference that Maori were twice as likely as non-Maori to carry a gene associated with risk-taking.

The monoamine oxidase gene (MOA), dubbed the warrior gene by American researchers, has been associated with risk-taking, including gambling, addiction and aggression.

Dr Lea believes the gene is key to addressing several Maori health issues.

News of the link generated wide media coverage, with newspapers around the world, including Scotland, South Africa, India and the US picking up on the story.

Although her husband's work has generated controversy - it's been latched on to by those eager to add substance to negative stereotypes, and been vilified by a number of Maori including Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia - Ms Lea says the research has a very personal basis.

"His researches stem from the fact that my mother died from breast cancer, my brother died from liver cancer, many of my aunties have died from cancer."

It was in questioning whanau members at tangi that Dr Lea sought to find a genetic basis for the high cancer rates among his adopted family.

"Our genes are in our two boys - they are going to carry these genes. The mortality rates in my family are absolutely shocking. He is now in a position to do something and that is where it all stemmed from."

Ms Lea is disappointed by the negativity her husband's research has attracted, and said his reference to the warrior gene was never intended to highlight a genetic predisposition towards anti-social behaviour. The gene is seen as a link to explaining, for example, why Maori women have one of the highest smoking rates in the world.

Dr Lea's research looked at nicotine metabolism and reasons why people smoke.

Ms Lea, who has a psychology degree, said all research showed that genetics could not predict behaviour without accounting for environmental influences.

"He [Dr Lea] would never say it is just genetics."

The MOA gene - she now favours calling it the "risk-taking gene" - could as easily be highlighted as a positive attribute for Maori.

"It is a little unfortunate it is called the warrior gene [because of a link with Once Were Warriors]. It can be present in any population, all it is saying is that there is a higher existence in the Maori population.

"Being Maori myself, I have always seen it positively ... it talks of our mana, our kaha."

Dr Lea said the gene assisted a formidable reputation in warfare, and was a driving force in ensuring the courage and tenacity required to achieve the colonisation of the Pacific.

Ms Lea said her personal experiences had forced the pair to ponder the delicate nature of detailing research that implies a race-based behaviour.

"I have spent my life being typecast as Maori. "There are stereotypes out there. Research is just research. We were hoping this would be seen as more positive."

And it appears that the furore around his comments has had an impact on her husband, who asked whether it was safe to come home.

Dr Lea was expected back in New Zealand last night.