New insights into the genetics of addiction.
Drug addiction is a common brain disorder that is extremely costly to the individual and to society. Genetics contributes significantly to vulnerability to this disorder, but identification of susceptibility genes has been slow. Recent genome-wide linkage and association studies have implicated several regions and genes in addiction to various substances, including alcohol and, more recently, tobacco. Current efforts aim not only to replicate these findings in independent samples but also to determine the functional mechanisms of these genes and variants.
Li
Ming D
MD
Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22911, USA. Ming_Li@virginia.edu
Burmeister
Margit
M
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000235:genetics*; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D006801:Humans; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000235:genetics; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000235:genetics*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000235:genetics
D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic