Genetics (Dis)order or Addiction

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Today scientist uses genes as a marker to find genetic variations as an explanation of different diseases like cancer, heart problems, liver, and kidney failure or immunological problems..etc.

For looking into genes they use single nucleotide polymorphism or SNPs. SNPs are common genetic variations among people. We have genetic variations in every 300 base pairs. Which actually means that there are around 10 million SNPs in the human genome. Now, not every variation is potentially dangerous for health and development, but there are some variations of the allele(different type of the same gene-we have it two-one from mother and one from father) that is proven to carry a potential danger for developing some diseases.

For instance, each SNP represents a difference in a single DNA, called a nucleotide. For example, an SNP may replace the nucleotide cytosine (C) with the nucleotide thymine (T) in a certain DNA.
Our gene, for example, for some protein (which has a specific function in the cell) would look like
ATTTGCGCTA- one stand
TAAACGCGAT-second strand


When SNP is in the region of the gene or near the gene it can hit a gene and we would be acceptable for some disease.
What has scientist found is that some SNPs are responsible for addiction to some kind the drugs. That SNP rs12284594 is responsible for addiction to nicotine, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, opiates or other drugs, with a ratio of 1.77 in European origin women.

 Source of reserach on addiction: PLOS/one

The gene that it is hit is a nuclear transcription factor. These factors are responsible for transcription of code from DNA to mRNA, which then code a protein of specific function.
 
Today it is possible for a few dollars to get raw data of your genome. There are several companies that are doing that analyze. There are 23andMe, FamilyTreeDNA or Ancestry.com. You would have to send them your saliva and you would get results for 100$. They look around 1 million SNPs that are crucial.

Now, you got raw data, but what will you do with them? Who will analyze them? There are several companies who do that one is SelfHacked (SelfDecode-partner firms), where you could get information about your genome and report which highlights your potential risks. Another is Prometheus where for 5$ you have guide and explanation. 


This novel research is very powerful and it can explain why some people over the evolution have a smaller amount of dopamine and serotonin. It is also some kind of relief that it is not us who is an addict it is genetic. We can put every blame on genetic or not, but the bottom line is that we are prone to some kind of addiction. It also brings us back, what can we do with that? We can and would have to make this our advantage as also there is research that people with addiction are also the one with great capacity for creating things.
Make this your advantage and not your weakness whether you believe in genetics or not.


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