cDNA Arrays in Alcohol-Related Pathology: Methods and Approaches

R. S. Gooch, T. J. Worst, W. M. Freeman, K. E. Vrana

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

This chapter reviews aspects of technologies and experimental design in transcriptomics. To better understand alcohol abuse and alcoholism, two key genetic elements prove to be important, these concepts suggest that: (1) genetic predispositions can place an individual at a risk for abuse and addiction. (2) There are genomic responses to chronic alcohol administration that contribute to clinical issues of tolerance, dependence (physical and psychological), and withdrawal. Aspects of both of these issues can involve altered levels of the messenger ribonucleic acid. That is, two individuals might express different levels of the same gene, thus placing one at a unique risk for developing alcoholism. Alternatively, chronic ethanol exposure will itself engender changes in the normal patterns of gene expression and create a new physiological state. The efficient, high screening of differences in the gene expression is the purview of the DNA array and constitutes the central technological feature of the new field of transcriptomics. This technology, while powerful, requires significant attention to detail, and considerable technical expertise.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationComprehensive Handbook of Alcohol Related Pathology
PublisherElsevier Inc.
Pages1597-1610
Number of pages14
Volume3-3
ISBN (Electronic)9780080502311
ISBN (Print)9780125643702
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2005

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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