Genetics and Epigenetics in Addiction Research
A special issue of Genes (ISSN 2073-4425). This special issue belongs to the section "Human Genomics and Genetic Diseases".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 January 2025 | Viewed by 77
Special Issue Editor
Interests: molecular genetics of psychiatric disorders; genetics in addiction research; pharmacogenetics; neurobiology; neuropharmacology; neurodegenerative diseases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Addiction is a multifactorial disorder, which complex neurobiology is still not clear. However, a considerable amount of evidence has indicated substantial role of genetic inheritance in addiction and suggested that addiction susceptibility is highly polygenic. Human family, twin, and adoption studies, as well as manipulation of genetic factors and environmental influences in animal models, enabled research into dynamic interactions between genes and environment. Specifically, environmental factors have been shown to contribute to the addiction vulnerability/resilience by influencing the gene regulation not only through mutations that change the DNA sequence, but also via epigenetic mechanisms, such as chromatin modifications and non-coding microRNAs, that produce trans-generationally transmitted alternations in the gene expression.
Special Issue “Genetics and Epigenetics in Addiction Research” will cover findings from various linkage and association studies, such as case-control and family-based designs, that target variations in the candidate genes involved in specific, both legal (nicotine, alcohol) and illicit (cannabis, opiates, amphetamines, cocaine…) drug addictions, but also in certain non-substance addictive behaviours (gambling, internet use, video-games, sex, eating, exercise, shopping…), as well as variations in the genes contributing to addictive behaviour in general. In addition, Special Issue topics will also include, but are not limited to, human genomics approaches including genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and next generation sequencing (NGS), which are able to analyse very large number of genetic variants, pharmacogenetic and gene expression studies, neuroimaging genetics, as well as methods such as cloning, mutagenesis, viral delivery approaches, and gene editing, used in animal models of addiction. Special Issue will also consider recent advances in epigenetics addressing histone modifications, DNA methylation, and regulation of gene expression by non-coding RNAs, as well as tremendous progress in bioinformatics that has significantly contributed to the better understanding of (epi)genetic architecture of addiction, necessary for development of new improved intervention approaches tailored to the person’s specific genetic makeup. We encourage you to submit original articles, reviews, communications and other types of articles covering various aspects of “Genetics and Epigenetics in Addiction Research”.
Dr. Dubravka Švob Štrac
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- drug addictions
- non-substance addictive behaviors
- candidate genes
- genome-wide association studies
- epigenetic modifications
- animal models of addiction
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