Some of us may be born to hit the bottle
ALCOHOLISM could be in our DNA, experts have suggested, after a gene linked to excessive drinking was discovered by scientists.
A single mutation in the gene can scramble the chemical messages that inhibit drinking, compromising the body’s ability to consume alcohol in moderation, researchers found.
Their experiments on mice found that those with mutant copies of the Gabrb1 gene preferred diluted alcohol to water.
The study in the Nature Communications journal showed that the mice would drink so much alcohol that, within an hour, they would have trouble controlling their movements.
Although some humans drink excessively, for a variety of reasons, the findings suggest that a few may be more genetically at risk of alcoholism, the re- searchers said.
The scientists, from five UK universities, introduced random mutations to the genetic code of mice before giving them a choice between water and diluted alcohol. Those with either of two mutations in Gabrb1 chose to consume almost 85% of their daily fluids from the alcohol solution, whereas healthy mice drank little or no alcohol.
Those with the mutation were so keen to get the alcohol that they would push a lever to obtain it, even over long periods of time.
Quentin Anstee, consultant hepatologist at Newcastle University and the joint lead author, said: “It’s amazing to think that a small change in the code for just one gene can have such profound effects on complex behaviours such as alcohol consumption.”