Additions: Genetics Vs. Learned Behavior

Additions: Genetics vs. Learned Behavior

Michael E. Gregory

Bio 102 - 7962

Malathi Radhakrishnan - Fall 2015

Table of Contents

Abstract………………………………………………………………………….…………………3

My Experience………………………………………………………..…………………………….4

The Genetics of Addiction…………………………………………………………………………..5

The Learning Curve………………………………………………………………………………....6

References………………………………………………………………………………………….7

Abstract

Studies have shown that addiction is due 50% to genetics and 50% percent to learned behaviors and coping skills. Studies have also shown that children of addicts are 8 times more likely to develop an addiction. Alcohol and other drugs of abuse stimulate a dopamine release and help drive addiction, and specific cues associated

Then it looked at the direct relatives (parents, siblings, or children) for those people. It had discovered that if a parent has a suffered from addiction, the child had an 8 times greater chance of developing an addiction. (Merikangas., Stolar, Stevens, Goulet, 1998) There is an evolutionary advantage that has allowed for addiction inadvertently. There is the potential for addiction pre-hardwired in our brains. When we have an experience, or we enjoy a meal we tend to look for that food in the future. While this may not be a life crippling, all encompassing form of addiction the behavior is still there. Researchers study families to learn which genes may be causing individuals to be susceptible to addiction. They compare DNA sequences of family members who have suffered from by addiction with those who have not, and they look for connecting pieces of DNA that are shared commonly among affected individuals and lessly common in the unaffected. There have been many genes with roles in addiction identified with the help of animal models, particularly mice. Because the reward pathway and many of the genes that underlie it function in similar ways in mice as it does in people, studies with mice are helping to lead the way in identifying the genes of