Genetics as a Factor in Addiction Addiction is a very complex illness made up of many factors. It is well known that social and environmental factors play an important role in addiction; there is a growing realisation that genetics are also a key part. Numerous genes influence addiction and scientists regularly conduct pedigrees to try to determine the genes that are passed down from parent to child that play a role in addiction. Researchers at the University of Utah in the United States conducted a comprehensive study into genetics in drug addiction and identified some of the genes likely to play a role in addiction using animal models (mostly mice) to help discover them. The research notes that because the reward pathway of mice functions in much the same way as it does in humans, genes that are identified in mice can then be used to find their counterpart in humans. Other scientific studies from AddictionsAndRecovery.org have backed up the evidence of genetics being a factor in addiction, including one conducted on identical and non-identical twins that revealed 50%-60% of addiction is due to genetic factors and another that concluded the children of addicts are 8 times more likely to develop an addiction.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Jul 2013 10:20:46 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015