A Genetic Association for Cigarette Smoking Behavior

Dopaminergic genes are likely candidates for heritable influences on cigarette smoking. In an accompanying article, Lerman et al. (1999) report associations between allele 9 of a dopamine transporter gene polymorphism (SLC6A3-9) and lack of smoking, late initiation of smoking, and length of quitting...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Health psychology 1999-01, Vol.18 (1), p.7-13
Main Authors: Sabol, Sue Z, Nelson, Mark L, Fisher, Craig, Gunzerath, Lorraine, Brody, Cindy L, Hu, Stella, Sirota, Leo A, Marcus, Stephen E, Greenberg, Benjamin D, IV, Frank R. Lucas, Benjamin, Jonathan, Murphy, Dennis L, Hamer, Dean H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Alleles
Behavior, Addictive - genetics
Carrier Proteins - genetics
Dopamine
Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
Exploratory Behavior
Female
Genes
Genetic Predisposition to Disease - genetics
Genetics
Genotype
Human
Humans
Male
Membrane Glycoproteins
Membrane Transport Proteins
Middle Aged
Minisatellite Repeats - genetics
Nerve Tissue Proteins
Personality
Personality Traits
Polymorphism, Genetic
Receptors, Dopamine D2 - genetics
Relationship
Smoking
Smoking - genetics
Smoking - psychology
Statistics as Topic
Tobacco Smoking
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Summary:Dopaminergic genes are likely candidates for heritable influences on cigarette smoking. In an accompanying article, Lerman et al. (1999) report associations between allele 9 of a dopamine transporter gene polymorphism (SLC6A3-9) and lack of smoking, late initiation of smoking, and length of quitting attempts. The present investigation extended their study by examining both smoking behavior and personality traits in a diverse population of nonsmokers, current smokers, and former smokers ( N = 1,107). A significant association between SLC6A3-9 and smoking status was confirmed and was due to an effect on cessation rather than initiation. The SLC6A3-9 polymorphism was also associated with low scores for novelty seeking, which was the most significant personality correlate of smoking cessation. It is hypothesized that individuals carrying the SLC6A3-9 polymorphism have altered dopamine transmission, which reduces their need for novelty and reward by external stimuli, including cigarettes.
ISSN:0278-6133
1930-7810
DOI:10.1037/0278-6133.18.1.7