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A Smoking Gene: deCODE Scientists Identify a Genetic Variant that Confers Nicotine Dependence
Scientists from deCODE genetics have identified a clear link between one genetic variant and susceptibility to nicotine dependence and will publish their results in the April 3 issue of Nature. Moreover, in part because of its impact on smoking behavior, each copy of the risk variant of this SNP confers an approximately 30% increase in risk of lung cancer and a 20% increase in risk of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a common and debilitating constriction of the arteries to the legs.
deCODE scientists came upon the genetic variant by closely examining the genetic makeup of more than 10,000 smokers. They then followed up with an analysis of 32,000 patients and controls from Iceland, New Zealand, Austria, Sweden, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain for lung cancer and PAD, two common diseases strongly associated with smoking.
Kari Stefansson, deCODE CEO, expressed the importance of the discovery: "These findings provide an example of the power of human genetics for shedding light on the most complex health challenges. Not only have we made a convincing link between a single genetic variant and a behavioral disorder - greater smoking quantity and addiction to nicotine - but also demonstrated how this risk factor translates into risk of lung cancer and PAD."
Stefansson also pointed out that deCODE's genetic profile service, deCODEme, will test for the gene immediately.
Details of the smoking gene study, which was funded in part by the European Commission, and from the National Institute of Drug Abuse of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, are available at www.nature.com.
more news
deCODE welcomes signing of GINA
deCODE genetics welcomes the signing of the Genetic Information Non-discrimination Act (GINA), a bill that, many years in the making, has now been signed by President Bush. GINA will provide a federal counterpart to existing legislation in many states prohibiting discrimination against individuals in matters of employment or healthcare coverage based upon the results of genetic tests or other genetic information.
April 27, 2008deCODE Scientists Discover Another Set of Common Genetic Variants Linked to Risk of Breast Cancer
Scientists from deCODE genetics today report the discovery of two common single-letter variants (SNPs) associated with risk of estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer. More than 60% of the general population carry at least one copy of the risk variant of the most important SNP
March 16, 2008deCODE Obesity Study Sheds Light on how Genetics Affects Risk and Onset of Common Diseases
In a paper published online today in the journal Nature, a team of deCODE scientists detail a major mechanism through which genetic factors contribute to major public health problems.
February 10, 2008deCODE Discovers Fourth Set of Prostate Cancer Risk Variants, Now Integrated into deCODEme™
deCODE scientists announced the discovery of two more genetic variants linked with increased risk of prostate cancer. These variants have been integrated into the prostate cancer disease module in deCODEme™, and subscribers can check for them in their updated personal profile.