Ecogenetic and Population Genetic Studies on Alcohol Sensitivity = Ecogenetic and Population Genetic Studies on Alcohol Sensitivity

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Concerning Population Genetic Research many protein polymorphisms, especially those of enzymes, are of great importance. Most of the so-called genetic traits are of general interest in regard to the deferring gene frequencies in various racial groups. Often, isozymes or protein variants of certain metabolisms can be connected to inborn errors of metabolism or genetic defects, which may be observed only in distinct populations - and in certain individuals. The connection of such traits to metabolite diseases is of considerable importance. Alcohol is a drug - or generally spoken an environmental substance or xenobiotic. Those are often potentially toxic chemicals which. may cause damage to certain individuals - but not to others. In this concern the study of genetic aspects of ecology is called ecogenetics. Recent studies on the polymorphism of alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase have received considerable attention to genetic variants of these enzymes in concern to the metabolism and toxic effects of ethanol and especially of acetaldehyde. The development of highly sensitive methods enabled us to study the isozymes in various organ extracts, skin, fibroblasts and hair root lysates. The results of family and population genetic studies in different racial groups lead to our hypothesis which explains now the observed high incidence of alcohol sensitivity among Mongoloid populations. The fact that genetics may be involved in regulating individual sensitivity to alcohol suggests that biological factors might partially answer the question why many people drink very little alcohol - especially in Orientals. The biochemical genetic basis of a predisposition for - or protection against alcohol related problems will be discussed. A better knowledge concerning these problems may help in more effective and therapeutic actions in preventive medicine.