In article <aquilla.1136872562D at sadye.emba.uvm.edu>,
aquilla at salus.med.uvm.edu (Tracy Aquilla) wrote:
> In Article <3bnr1t$il at ixnews1.ix.netcom.com>, ScottCW at ix.netcom.com (Scott
> Wilks) wrote:
> > I am writing a term paper on the genetic link which causes
> >alcoholism in some people. I have plentiful information on the disease
> >itself and its ramification, but nothing more than a passing reference
> >to the genetics. If anyone knows where I might be able to locate some
> >more substancial information on the topics, the help would be greatly
> >appreciated. Thanks for your time.
> > ---Scott Wilks
>
Having just submitted a PhD on genetics and alcoholism (concentrating on
the metabolic effects) I can think of lots of sources, what slant are you
coming from?
Feel free to email me with specific areas of interest if you want refs.
> I think that this is because the 'alcoholic' gene has not been identified.
True, but genes which appear to modify susceptibility to alcoholism and
alcoholic liver disease have been identified in both Oriental and
Polynesian populations. The genes specifically responsible for the
development of alcohol dependence have not, mostly because there is still
no agreement on what individuals are becoming addicted to (ethanol,
acetaldehyde, acetate?, something else, all of the above...) which makes
finding receptors and other useful clues somewhat difficult. Ethanol has
some very general effects on the liver and brain which make its metabolism
tricky to pin down.
>> Tracy Aquilla, Ph.D.
> Molecular Physiology and Biophysics
> University of Vermont
>aquilla at salus.med.uvm.edu
Stephen
--
Macintosh Consultant Marshall at kauri.vuw.ac.nz
Victoria University of Wellington
New Zealand
