Nicotine dependence and genetic variation in the nicotinic receptors.

ABSTRACT: Technological advances have led to the discovery of genetic variants that contribute to many illnesses including nicotine dependence. A multi-stage model of the development of nicotine dependence underlies these genetic studies, and it includes a progression through several stages of smoking behavior from never smoking to nicotine dependence. The final step in this model of dependence is the progression from established smoking behavior to the development of nicotine dependence. Contrasting individuals who smoke only a few cigarettes per day, or "chippers", to heavy smoking, nicotine dependent subjects, focuses a genetic study on the transition from smoking to nicotine dependence. This approach has identified distinct genetic variants that contribute to nicotine dependence on chromosome 15

SUBMITTER: Bierut LJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2748747 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature