more likely to succumb to alcoholism (Goodwin, 1981).Researchers at the Portland Alcohol Research Center have recently mapped three gene regions in mice that influence the susceptibility to physical dependence on alcohol. According to Kari Buck, Ph.D.,This is an important breakthrough because it is the first time that scientists have identified discrete gene regions involved in physical dependence on alcohol (p.22). Specifically Bucks team has shown that mice carrying three gene regions are at greater risk for acute physical dependence on alcohol than mice without these genes. Because of the importance of alcohol withdrawal in clinical manifestations of alcoholism, and because of similarities between the mouse and human genome, Buck feels that the study will contribute significantly to the ultimate development of new treatments (p.22). Although, Buck realizes that both genes and the environment influence alcohol dependence in humans, she manages to confirm that there is clearly an increased risk of alcohol-related problems in children of alcoholics (Gold, 1991). Furthermore, a collaborate study on the Genetics of Alcoholism, sponsored by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, has examined regions of the human chromosome that that correspond to the genetic markers identified in mice. In addition, the study also found evidence for a gene on the human chromosome 1 that appears to be involved in alcohol dependence. In addition, it has been stated that the same region of the chromosome appears to contain more GABA receptor genes. Previous studies suggested that alcoholics appear to have more brain GABA receptors than non-alcoholics. GABA is one of the brains most important chemical messengers, carrying signals to neighboring nerve cells and docking on receptor molecules embedded in the membrane of the cell (Vaillant, 1995). On a similar note, Kenneth Blum began formulating a theory of the cause of alcoholism in th...
