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New directions in the genetic mechanisms underlying nicotine addiction
Author(s) -
MunafÓ Marcus,
Johnstone Elaine,
Murphy Michael,
Walton Robert
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
addiction biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.445
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1369-1600
pISSN - 1355-6215
DOI - 10.1080/13556210020040181
Subject(s) - addiction , nicotine , nicotine dependence , nicotine addiction , persistence (discontinuity) , behavioural genetics , psychology , candidate gene , genetic association , mechanism (biology) , twin study , neuroscience , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , biology , gene , genetics , single nucleotide polymorphism , genotype , philosophy , geotechnical engineering , epistemology , heritability , engineering
Major advances have been made in understanding nicotine addiction and smoking behaviour in recent years. In particular, evidence for the relative importance of genetic and environmental effects on smoking initiation and persistence has emerged from behaviour genetic studies. These data have supported evidence from molecular genetic studies for the role of particular candidate genes in tobacco dependence. Studies of the personality correlates of smoking behaviour suggest that these factors mediate the association between genetics and smoking initiation, while learning models of nicotine addiction suggest a role for dopaminergic genes in facilitating neuroadaptations associated with smoking persistence and development of nicotine dependence. Integrating these different avenues of research represents one of the most interesting and potentially fruitful ventures in the treatment of tobacco dependence.