Recently it has been found that a gene variant for a bitter-taste receptor in humans may be linked to an increased risk for alcoholism. Researchers from
The principle investigator Alison M. Goate, mentions that ‘…there have been several papers suggesting drinking behaviors might be influenced by variations within taste receptors.’ Thus, COGA took the initiative to investigate these views further. The team found that a single base change in the TAS2R16 receptor gene (a gene which aids in the regulating of responses to bitter taste) was responsible for the increased risk in alcoholism in individuals.
According to the results obtained from cell culture experiments, Goate stated that the common variation of the TAS2R16 gene ‘…is more sensitive to bitter tastes’. As a result, people with this form of the gene are less likely to be alcohol dependent. The team then studied genome sequences on chromosome 7 from the Human Genome Project.
What was found was that the variant was most common in African Americans. Approximately 45% of African Americans studied carried the variation in the taste receptor gene while only 0.6% of Caucasians had this variation. However, Goate points out that the variation in the TAS2R16 gene is not the only genetic aspect which contributes to an increased risk for alcoholism and that there are also environmental factors involved.
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