Chromosomes 2 and 4 Associated with Alcohol Consumption
Smokers drink and drinkers smoke. Relying on this observation, researchers studied 158 nuclear families that were determined to have at least two first-degree relatives who had smoked 100 or more cigarettes in their lifetime. In these families, an association between alcohol consumption and chromosomes 2 and 4 were found.
One locus on chromosome 2 and two loci on chromosome 4 were identified. Chromosome 4 contains several genes that produce enzymes involved in the metabolism of alcohol.
Gary E. Swan, director of the Center for Health Sciences at SRI International:
…the consistency of this result across study samples strongly suggests that variations in genes for alcohol metabolism play a role in determining who will go on to regular consumption of alcoholic beverages after initial exposure, and who is at risk for alcoholism.
Future studies that directly measure physiological changes should help to establish exactly which genes are involved in people’s suceptibility to alcohol addiction. But environment clearly plays a role in the relationship between genes and alcoholism. If there isn’t any alcohol around, no one would ever become an alcoholic.
EurekAlert, December 14, 2005
Yet again I find myself to be an exception… With parents who have smoked most of their lives and friends who have never really minded I should probably be in the “black disgusting lung department”. Fortunately I am not, unless you count second hand smoke, in which case I don’t even want to think about what my insides look like.
When it comes to alcohol though… I’m known to enjoy my wine. It’s my weakness although I would never let it become a need. As for psychological changes… don’t those occur all the time?
apples: Thanks for the comment! I wish I could say everything in moderation, but it obviously doesn’t apply to tobacco smoke. Luckily, it does apply to alcohol.