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A Family‐Based Analysis of Whether the Functional Promoter Alleles of the Serotonin Transporter Gene HTT Affect the Risk for Alcohol Dependence
Author(s) -
Edenberg Howard J.,
Reynolds Jennifer,
Koller Daniel L,
Begleiter Henri,
Bucholz Kathleen K.,
Conneally P. Michael,
Crowe Raymond,
Goate Alison,
Hesselbrock Victor,
Li T.K.,
Numberger John I.,
Porjesz Bernice,
Reich Theodore,
Rice John P.,
Schuckit Marc,
Tischfield Jay A.,
Foroud Tatiana
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/j.1530-0277.1998.tb03704.x
Subject(s) - serotonin transporter , transmission disequilibrium test , allele , linkage disequilibrium , genetics , alcohol dependence , polymorphism (computer science) , biology , offspring , gene , alcohol , haplotype , genotype , pregnancy , biochemistry
A population association between a regulatory variation in the promoter of the serotonin transporter gene (HTT) and severe alcohol dependence was recently reported. We analyzed this potential association in a large number of systematically ascertained families in the United States; these families had at least three first‐degree relatives who were alcohol‐dependent. Analyses focused on individuals defined as alcohol‐dependent by criteria from ICD‐10 and on subsets of these individuals reporting withdrawal‐related symptoms. Application of the transmission disequilibrium test did not provide support for either linkage or association between this functional polymorphism and alcohol dependence; there was no significant bias in the transmission of either allele to the alcohol‐dependent offspring. We also report that African Americans differ from Caucasians in allele frequencies for this polymorphism.