relationship between the genetics and addiction! - (Apr/23/2006 )

Do you belief that, there is a relationship between the genetics and addiction!! Many researches explained that, multiple genes play a role in the transmission of addiction from one generation to another. It is called POLYGENIC INHERITANCE

yes, there is probably a genetic reason why some people behave the way they do. But, i think labelling it as "the addiction gene/s" is misrepresententing the facts.
A while ago, a newspaper reported that science has identified the genes that make men rapists. the headline was "rape genes" or something like that. it wasn't until the last paragraph that we realise that the genes actually were linked with risk taking behaviour, which, given the environment the child was raised, and the environment the adult was in, may result with an increase in violent sexual attacks.

that being said, it is possible that there are genes which make giving up certain substances harder for some people than others.

case in point, my older (half) brother recently gave up smoking. it's only taken him 16 years. and it was a struggle. he put on weight, he was grumpy, he needed the chewing gum etc. and everday, he could go back on 'em.
my dad (no relation to my brother), smoked for 20+ years, because he thought it was cool. met my mother, and she told him to quit. did that day, never had one since. no problem, no mood swings, no cravings, no nothing. he was mellow before, and he was mellow after (seriously, he's so laid back, when he stands, he's laying down).

This is my favourite diagram for polygenetic inheritence.
suppose this is a menu, and to be an alcoholic, you need 2A's, 3B's, and 2C's.
So when Bob married Suzie, through the twists of genetics and fate, poor bob jr becomes an alcoholic, but the 2 other kids don't.



Another really well worn tale of polygenetic inheretence is Disiree's Baby.

Vetticus

alway remember
P=G+E

so although gene can result in a predisposition towards certain traits they are by no mean soley responsible, and in complex traits such as addiction, the role of the environment becomes even more important

with heroin addiction, the gene AGS3 was shown to be really *really* important in the compulsive drug seeking behaviour associated with addicts.

with cocaine, it's the protein (DAT)1.

i think, that there is a difference between addictive behaviour, and addiction to substances... biologically speaking. whilst, some people become addicted to, say, reading specific magazines and watching certain types of video (think of all the hollywood stars that are sex addicts).... becoming addicted to a drug is sorta different. although there are the psychological aspects, there is also the way the body reacts to the drug. suppose two people, raised in the same environment, became druggies. one might assume that they both would go through the same symptoms of withdrawal. but suppose, that because of the genetic makeup, one can go through withdrawal easier, and is less likely to crave their drug of choice after the clean-up. and suppose, because of the genetic makeup, the other, has a hellova time in withdrawal, and constantly craves the drug of choice, and readily becomes addicted to said drug again.
it is really possible that "addiction" may be linked to genes and their proteins interactions. so, if this information could be used in order to create a treatment that will lessen the druggies biological need for that one last hit... great.

still, in order to become an addict, you have to use the stuff first. this is, in all probability, not associated with genetics at all, but is soley an environmental factor.

vetticus

although in drug addiction the effect is normally based largely on the biological effects of the drugs on specific receptors in cells, these receptors are usually present in almost all population groups, which kind of negates the effects of inheritence on drug addiction.

My case is for other types of addiction, where their is no discernable biological effects on cells (as in antagonist action), but where people are either predisposed to have an addictive personaltity or the environment influences them to become addicted to certain items/issues ect. Although I do believe that genes do play a role in some of these cases, and even a smaller role in a number of them, that such behaviour is largely psycholocial/enviromentally induced.

The point I am trying to make is that lately their has been a large fad in labelling certain genes to be the root of a specific problem and I would like "attractive" to see that its not a simple black and white picture but a thousand variations of a shade of grey (environment, multiple genes etc)

I completely agree with you grapes of wrath.
I just find interesting difference between the an addictive personality and addiction to a substance.
And, if you take away the trashy TV and magazine reports on news, and look at the actual science, there seems to be a case that perhaps people do respond (slightly) differently to certain stimuli.
Addictive personality traits.... yeah...on the morning show, they had a girl who was "addicted to being sick". well, i'm "addicted" to "sleeping-in". maybe i can be on telly too?

vetticus

must be something in the water, cause i am also addicted to sleeping in!

I'm addicted to eating. So much so, that I think if I stop, I would probably die

i feel the same way about the pussycat dolls............

Don't cha......