Association of smoking and personality with a polymorphism of the dopaminetransporter gene: Results from a community survey

In studies that used mixed volunteer samples, Lerman ct al, [1999: Health P sychol 18:14-20] and Sabol et al, [1899: Health Psychol 18:7-13] reported o n an association of smoking with a polymorphism of the dopamine transporter gene. We attempted to replicate this association in a nonvolunteer communi ty sample of 861 Caucasians, No associations were found with either smoking initiation or smoking cessation, Sabol et al, [1999] also reported on an a ssociation of the dopamine transporter polymorphism with the personality tr ait of novelty seeking. However, we failed to find any associations with a range of personality traits, including a scale of fun seeking that correlat es with novelty seeking. These negative findings suggest that either the or iginal associations are not replicable or that any association is very smal l. Am, J, Med. Genet, (Neuropsychiatr, Genet.) 96:331-334, 2000, (C) 2000 W iley-Liss, Inc.