Gene Mutation and its Relation to Alcohol Abuse

If you ever find yourself with an alcohol problem, it may be due to a faulty gene inside your DNA. Alcohol is one of the most abused drugs and now researchers may know the true reason behind why alcoholism is such an epidemic. A team of experts joined together and collected a group of mice for their experiment. The objective was to see if the gene Gabrb1 would drive the mice to drink alcohol in large amounts if mutated. The experiment showed that the mice with the mutated gene were more prone to drink alcohol than water. The mice consumed nearly 85% of their daily fluid intake with the alcohol. The mice also were put in obstacles whelre they would have to get to the alcohol by pushing over a lever. The researches said they worked very hard to get to it, which is like a person with alcohol problems who go out of there way to get alcohol in their systems no matter what it takes. The mice also consumed enough alcohol within an hour that would make them intoxicated which would trigger signs of intoxication like difficulty moving. Apparently the mutated gene causes a receptor in the brain called the GABBA receptor to activate randomly even when the GABA gene, which is a chemical messenger inhibitor, is not present. "The mutation of the Beta1 containing receptor is altering its structure and creating spontaneous electrical activity in the brain in this pleasure zone, the nucleus accumbens. As the electrival signal from these receptors increase, so does the desire to drink such an extent that mice will actually work to get alcohol, for much longer than we would have expected," Dr. Anstee. The team who conducted the experiment knew from the beginning that the gene GABA was involved in alcohol consumption, but now after this study that a particular part of GABAA receptor has an enormous impact. 
Although it is not all clear to everyone yet I know this article is beneficial and important for all those who know someone who has a problem with alcohol consumption. It could possibly lead to a way to help those who abuse alcohol on a daily basis. It's amazing to know that genes really have an impact to who we are today. What was once thought to be an environmental effect could also be a gene defect. I do however think that both factors would come into play for those who cannot control their alcohol intake.