New directions in the genetic mechanisms underlying nicotine addiction

Major advances have been made in understanding nicotine addiction and smoki ng behaviour in recent years. In particular, evidence for the relative impo rtance of genetic and environmental effects on smoking initiation and persi stence has emerged from behaviour genetic studies. These data have supporte d evidence from molecular genetic studies for the role of particular candid ate genes in tobacco dependence. Studies of the personality correlates of s moking behaviour suggest that these factors mediate the association between genetics and smoking initiation, while learning models of nicotine addicti on suggest a role for dopaminergic genes in facilitating neuroadaptations a ssociated with smoking persistence and development of nicotine dependence. Integrating these different avenues of research represents one of the most interesting and potentially fruitful ventures in the treatment of tobacco d ependence.