I recently read an article found in the Brookhaven Bits & Bytes blog, regarding a new discovery within the field of genetics. After various testing on mice, scientists have found that a lack in a certain receptor in the brain of mice, dopamine D2, can cause mice to be more susceptible to brain damage to due alcohol intake. MRI scans showed that exposure of the brain lacking the receptors to alcohol caused shrinkage of the cerebral cortex and thalamus. This is particularly interesting to me because as a college student, alcohol consumption is seen everywhere. I am curious as to how common of a condition this is. Scientists also say a lack of this receptor is more likely to cause alcoholism in those who choose to consume. The article reminds the scientific community that genetics play a huge role in not only how are bodies are constructed and work, but also how within one's lifetime, one's genetic composition can have an affect on different lifestyle choices people make such as alcohol consumption and the recreational use of drugs. This finding can lead to people receiving a genetic test to determine whether or not these receptors are present, so that people can make a more educated decision on whether or not they want to partake in frequent alcohol consumption. The article, written by Karen Walsh can be found within the Brookhaven Bits & Bytes blog.
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