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duckznutz · 06-01-2003, 04:07 PM

found this via google : -

Some of us have inherited characteristics that make alcoholization more likely. The children of alcoholics become alcoholized more often than the children of non-drinkers. This is because the predisposition to alcoholism is hereditary, not because of the influence of environmental factors. Science is searching for methods for recognizing individuals at risk of alcoholism already in childhood. This would provide us with the possibility of preventing alcoholism.

The effects of the environment and of hereditary factors have been studied. A Swedish study revealed that sons of an alcoholic biological parent were, compared to others, twice as likely to become alcoholics, whereas the risk did not increase for adoptive children of alcoholized foster parents. Nothing indicated that imitating the behaviour of parents would be a significant factor in adopting alcoholic drinking habits.

The effect of hereditary factors is also evident in drinking habits and intoxication. The drinking habits of identical twins are more alike than those of fraternal twins. According to and American study, identical twins may even take to the same brands of alcoholic beverages. They also become intoxicated in the same way.

Laboratory animals provide a reliable method of research. The environmental factors are the same for all of them. Over twenty years ago, in Alko's research laboratory, two types of rats were bred: rats that consumed a lot of alcohol, and rats that were sober. Their descendants were also drinkers or sober, respectively.

Rats can also be bred to tolerate alcohol differently. In Alko's research laboratory, there are rats that become more intoxicated than other rats on the same amount of alcohol. Also these laboratory tests prove the importance of hereditary factors in alcoholism. It wouldn't even be possible to breed rats with different drinking habits or varying tolerance for alcohol if these traits were not hereditary.

It is not yet known what it is in alcoholism that is hereditary. Few expect the researchers to find a gene responsible for alcoholism, determining whether an individual will become an alcoholic or not. Instead, researchers try to define a hereditary biological characteristic that predisposes some for alcoholism. This is one of the great challenges of biomedical research on alcohol.

If we find out what it is that causes the drinker rats in Alko's laboratory to like alcohol, we might be close to revealing the secrets of alcoholism. This knowledge would give us the possibility to find those individuals who are predisposed to alcoholism before alcohol becomes a problem for them. Measures could be taken to protect them from alcoholism and the development of a problem could be prevented.

Research professor Kalervo Kiianmaa, National Public Health Institute

06-01-2003, 04:07 PM	#27 (permalink)
duckznutz Addict Location: Brook Cottage, Lanark, Scotland	found this via google : - Some of us have inherited characteristics that make alcoholization more likely. The children of alcoholics become alcoholized more often than the children of non-drinkers. This is because the predisposition to alcoholism is hereditary, not because of the influence of environmental factors. Science is searching for methods for recognizing individuals at risk of alcoholism already in childhood. This would provide us with the possibility of preventing alcoholism. The effects of the environment and of hereditary factors have been studied. A Swedish study revealed that sons of an alcoholic biological parent were, compared to others, twice as likely to become alcoholics, whereas the risk did not increase for adoptive children of alcoholized foster parents. Nothing indicated that imitating the behaviour of parents would be a significant factor in adopting alcoholic drinking habits. The effect of hereditary factors is also evident in drinking habits and intoxication. The drinking habits of identical twins are more alike than those of fraternal twins. According to and American study, identical twins may even take to the same brands of alcoholic beverages. They also become intoxicated in the same way. Laboratory animals provide a reliable method of research. The environmental factors are the same for all of them. Over twenty years ago, in Alko's research laboratory, two types of rats were bred: rats that consumed a lot of alcohol, and rats that were sober. Their descendants were also drinkers or sober, respectively. Rats can also be bred to tolerate alcohol differently. In Alko's research laboratory, there are rats that become more intoxicated than other rats on the same amount of alcohol. Also these laboratory tests prove the importance of hereditary factors in alcoholism. It wouldn't even be possible to breed rats with different drinking habits or varying tolerance for alcohol if these traits were not hereditary. It is not yet known what it is in alcoholism that is hereditary. Few expect the researchers to find a gene responsible for alcoholism, determining whether an individual will become an alcoholic or not. Instead, researchers try to define a hereditary biological characteristic that predisposes some for alcoholism. This is one of the great challenges of biomedical research on alcohol. If we find out what it is that causes the drinker rats in Alko's laboratory to like alcohol, we might be close to revealing the secrets of alcoholism. This knowledge would give us the possibility to find those individuals who are predisposed to alcoholism before alcohol becomes a problem for them. Measures could be taken to protect them from alcoholism and the development of a problem could be prevented. Research professor Kalervo Kiianmaa, National Public Health Institute __________________ Where your talents and the needs of the world cross . . there lies your vocation.