“New research by Dr Gabriella Gobbi of Canada’s McGill University1 suggests that fatherless children are more likely to grow up angry and turn to drugs,” FamilyVoice research officer Ros Phillips said today. “The study used Californian mice who, like humans, are monogamous. The male and female mice normally raise their young together.
“The researchers found that the absence of a father could permanently alter the structure of the brains of their offspring, making them more aggressive and angry. Female young were more severely affected than males. Dr Gobbi believes the same brain changes could occur in humans in similar situations.”
Mrs Phillips said the findings have significant implications for current moves to legalise and legitimise the artificial creation of children via assisted reproductive technology for single women and lesbian couples.
“We should not lightly ignore the age-old wisdom that every child deserves, if at all possible, both a mum and a dad,” she said.
Mrs Roslyn Phillips, BSc DipEd National Research Officer FamilyVoice Australia: a Christian voice for family, faith and freedom Website: www.fava.org.au
