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An Alcoholic Disposition

Alcoholism is often said to run in the family. Biochemists at Victoria University are studying genetic links with alcohol abuse to see if there is a scientific basis for the belief.

"If one could find genetic markers associated with alcoholism, there's probably a significant proportion of the population who might like to be warned that they should take alcohol very seriously, " says Dr Geoff Chambers of Victoria's Biochemistry Department.

The study is using DNA identification techniques to survey genetic variants that might be linked with alcoholism. This new technology provides a fairly simple means of sampling. Previous studies used liver biopsies which can be complicated and costly.

The Japanese are renowned for not holding their liquor and studies have shown a physiological basis for this. Almost half their population lacks the right biochemistry to metabolise alcohol. This provides in-built genetic protection against becoming alcoholic.

If the factors involved could be identified and compared to those in alcoholics, it might go some way towards genetically tagging and treating the disease.