Sunday, December 13, 2015

Maybe a "Quit Smoking" Gene

Do you smoke still? Have you ever tried to break the habit? Whatever the case, you are not alone in the struggle. 



Scientists throughout the world, specially Ming Li and the research team in Virginia, have conducted experiments between 1994-2014 to assess possible genetic influences on smokers. 22 different studies were performed with over 9, 500 smokers involved, and the results were revolutionary. These scientists specifically targeted a Taq1A sequence of DNA in the human genome.  Smokers with the A2/A2 variation of this DNA sequence found it easier to quit smoking--the "cold turkey" and instantaneous quitters. Smokers with other variation of the Taq1A gene found it very difficult to quit, often committing and getting hooked back to the habit. The sequences of DNA influence the amount of dopamine being produced in the brain in response to the nicotine levels in blood. Consequently, the A2/A2 individuals release less dopamine, making nicotine less addictive; therefore, it becomes easier to quit. 

I found this research very interesting. I have always wondered why some individuals can quit smoking seemingly much easier than others. Professor Edelmen, a professor of medicine in New York, states, "There's a huge variability in the ability to quit smoking…" Although this is true, geneticists have discovered a genetic influence on smokers that makes sense biologically. 



8 comments:

  1. This research is extremely interesting because I have grandparents who smoked their entire lives and they found it very hard to quit. We did manage to get them to smoke the e-cigs for the past 6 years. They are finally on the lowest dosage of nicotine but they still say they could not go to 0. It would be great if this research was perfected so millions of people can quit smoking.

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  2. This is very interesting as I though smoking was all Psychological and didn't have anything to do with DNA other than cause cancer. This does explain why it's much easier for people to quite while others fight it very hard. I there's still accountability though as it is a decision to smoke.

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  3. Although there is definitely just the decision to smoke, I would have never thought that there was a relation to DNA. Kinda gives a better understanding of how some people say they quit like it was nothing, while others struggle for a long time with it.

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  4. This post was very interesting, I never knew that there was a genetic reason behind why certain people find it so hard to quit smoking for good and it was fascinating to learn that dopamine levels in the brain are linked to how addicted a person is to nicotine.

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  5. This post is so informational. It blows my mind because my mom has smoked ever since i can remember, and has tried to quit so many times. It really makes sense now why she struggled so much.

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  6. Smoking is labeled as one of the biggest public health issues in the United States. Hopefully this research will help people quit that need to in order to live healthy lives.

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  7. This was really interesting. I never thought about why people have such different experiences trying to quit smoking. I always thought it was just based on the individual's willpower.

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  8. Awesome news to hear that there is a gene linked to quitting smoking. ive watched my uncle smoke my whole life and try to quit multiple times. Crazy to think that there is more of reason to why he could never quit

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