To begin, I found this article extremely interesting because studies on a small worm are offering clue's to why it's so hard to quit smoking. The study has been taking place at the University of Michigan. They have discovered that a genetic mechanism that has been dismissed before is hinting to have to do with a nicotine dependence. In the study they use millimeter long worms and study they nictotine dependency. Like humans, they have similar behavior and get hooked as well. They have identified specific genes, including an mRNA that codes for the nicotine dependency. "We're seeing a clear link between nicotine, microRNA, the receptor proteins, and nicotine-dependent behavior," said Jianke Gong, a researcher in lab.
I think this is a great step for further genetic research in drug dependency research. It will help find out how exactly the dependency happens in the body of humans and will help in medical research as well.
University of Michigan. "Tiny worms may offer new clues about why it's so hard to quit
smoking." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 7 November 2017.
<www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171107122922.htm>.
