Monday, February 23, 2015

The Influence of Genes on Addiction


An article from the University of Utah Health Sciences Department, Genes and Addiction, discusses the role that genetics play on substance addiction. Genes are responsible for making an individual more vulnerable to substance dependence.  Research performed on laboratory mice has been helpful to determine the effects of similar traits in humans. When a certain gene was found to play a role in addiction in mice, the counterpart sequence of DNA was examined in humans.

I agree with the article that an individual’s environment is a much larger factor to addiction than genetics. If inheritance causes an individual to have higher withdrawal symptoms for a substance, but their environment does not put them in a position to experiment with this substance, then the genes would have no visible effect to the individual. However, if an addict has a genetic predisposition to have harsher withdrawal symptoms, than genetics could aid in the individual remaining addicted to the abused drug.

A goal of studying the genetic basis of addiction is to improve treatment for addicts. Identifying gene sequences that play a role in addiction allows scientists to develop drugs that are more effective in controlling this gene. This can begin a new wave of treatment, with drugs tailored specifically to your genetic make-up.

5 comments:

  1. I like how they mentioned "susceptibility does not mean inevitability" in the article. A higher risk of addiction due to these certain genes should pose as a precautionary measure, but all in all, the confines of addiction seem like a much more complex and multi-faceted problem. Like you mentioned, isolating these genes could be used for better treatments for addicts which is always a step in the right direction.

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  2. This article does seem interesting, but I feel that the summary is very choppy and vague. Your opinion is given more than the article is summarized. I would have liked to see you briefly explain how, "Genes are responsible for making an individual more vulnerable to substance dependence." I did not even understand what you are trying to convey with this line,"Researched preformed...determine the effects of similar traits in humans." I would recommend proof reading in the future.

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  3. A brief summary is all that is needed,Thomas. If you would like to read the article, the link is given in the blog post. I did not go into depth about your comment on substance dependence because I thought it was fairly simplistic but here goes an example:
    Let's say Person A and Person B are both attempting to overcome a heroin addiction, and enroll into a rehab facility. They will begin to enter a stage of withdrawal, exhibiting symptoms such as muscle cramping, vomiting, diarrhea, cold sweats, etc. Most rehab centers use medication to lessen the withdrawal symptoms, one being suboxone. Person A takes suboxone, displays less severe withdrawal symptoms, and is able to complete rehabilitation. Person B is genetically pre-disposed to a resistance to suboxone, exhibiting an extremely harsh period of withdrawal. Therefore, Person B would have a larger chance of relapse occurring due to the role genetics played in resistance to the pain relief drug.
    About your mention of "Researched preformed...determine the effects of similar traits in humans", the line underneath explains that addiction genes studied in mice were then used to identify the counterpart in humans.
    I would like to remind you kindly that the purpose of this blog sharing site is not to critique blog postings,but rather a space to share ideas about the field of genetics.

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  4. Nick, I completely agree with your comment about using these findings as a precautionary measure. I would be interested in finding if I am personally genetically susceptible to addiction and to what degree environment plays a factor.
    Even though this article focused specifically on genetic relation to drug addiction, I feel this research could lead to many more relevant studies. Perhaps future experiments will analyze other types of addiction, such as to food or gambling.

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  5. In holistic drug rehab, your mind and soul are treated equally with your body. This requires proper nutrition, spiritual counseling and even learning simple meditation techniques. By attacking all of the possible reasons for addiction, success is achieved more quickly, effectively and the outcome last longer. rehabnear.me

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