A study by the University of Colarado Boulder of the smoking patterns of over 596 twins, 363 of them identical and 233 of them fraternal, suggests that today's smokers may have a greater genetic influence than those in the past. The study involved a questionnaire focusing on smoking habits from 1960-1980, a period of changing views on smoking. One of the study's co-authors, Professor Fred Pampel, stated that, ""In the past, when smoking rates were higher, people smoked for a variety of reasons. Today the composition of the smoking population has changed. Smokers are more likely to be hard-core users who are most strongly influenced by genetic factors." Between identical twins, 65% of both twins quit within a two year time period if the other twin quit. Between fraternal twins, this dropped to 55%, suggesting a genetic component. So, fraternal twins sharing the same twins showed greater similiarities in their smoking habits and level of addiction. Also, if one twin continued to smoke it was more likely that the other twin would not quit smoking. Although the researchers concede that a specific genetic marker is hard to identify, they say that the study shows many genetically similiarities. Smoking-related diseases lead to approximately 443,000 deaths a year in the United States. Anti-smoking campaigns had previously drastically cut the smoking population, the number has flatlined over the past years, suggesting a genetic influence. The study suggests that this could change anti-smoking campaigns to treating it as more of an addiction than a choice, due to the growing genetic component of smoking. Maybe now nioctine addiction will be viewed similiarly to alocholism or drug addiction and taken more seriously by the public.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Twin Smokers Study Suggests Greater Genetic Influence
A study by the University of Colarado Boulder of the smoking patterns of over 596 twins, 363 of them identical and 233 of them fraternal, suggests that today's smokers may have a greater genetic influence than those in the past. The study involved a questionnaire focusing on smoking habits from 1960-1980, a period of changing views on smoking. One of the study's co-authors, Professor Fred Pampel, stated that, ""In the past, when smoking rates were higher, people smoked for a variety of reasons. Today the composition of the smoking population has changed. Smokers are more likely to be hard-core users who are most strongly influenced by genetic factors." Between identical twins, 65% of both twins quit within a two year time period if the other twin quit. Between fraternal twins, this dropped to 55%, suggesting a genetic component. So, fraternal twins sharing the same twins showed greater similiarities in their smoking habits and level of addiction. Also, if one twin continued to smoke it was more likely that the other twin would not quit smoking. Although the researchers concede that a specific genetic marker is hard to identify, they say that the study shows many genetically similiarities. Smoking-related diseases lead to approximately 443,000 deaths a year in the United States. Anti-smoking campaigns had previously drastically cut the smoking population, the number has flatlined over the past years, suggesting a genetic influence. The study suggests that this could change anti-smoking campaigns to treating it as more of an addiction than a choice, due to the growing genetic component of smoking. Maybe now nioctine addiction will be viewed similiarly to alocholism or drug addiction and taken more seriously by the public.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I feel that smoking will never be viewed similarly to alcoholism or drug addiction for two reasons. One, because it is a legal drug, and two, because nicotine does not physically impair an individual. It is a trial by jury, and no one puts strong emphasis on it. Sad but true.
ReplyDeleteIt is still difficult to rule out the influence of environment in the cases of these twins unless they were raised separately. Also, since many twins are very connected, could the choice to smoke or not smoke be influenced by the other twins decision? There was an increased probability of twins behaving the same in the identical twin scenario vs. the fraternal, so there might be some genetic predisposition to addiction in general, but it's important to see how much is resulting from environment as opposed to genetic composition.
ReplyDelete