Work

The genetic aetiology of cannabis use initiation: a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies and a SNP-based heritability estimation

Year: 2012

Type: review

Abstract: While initiation of cannabis use is around 40% heritable, not much is known about the underlying genetic aetiology. Here, we meta-analysed two genome-wide association studies of initiation of cannabis use with > 10 000 individuals. None of the genetic variants reached genome-wide significance. We also performed a gene-based association test, which also revealed no significant effects of individual genes. Finally, we estimated that only approximately 6% of the variation in cannabis initiation is due to common genetic variants. Future genetic studies using larger sample sizes and different methodologies (including sequencing) might provide more insight in the complex genetic aetiology of cannabis use.

Source: Addiction Biology

DOI: 10.1111/j.1369-1600.2012.00478.x

Authors: Karin J. H. Verweij, Anna A. E. Vinkhuyzen, Beben Benyamin, Michael T. Lynskey, Lydia Quaye, Arpana Agrawal, Scott D. Gordon, Grant W. Montgomery, Pamela A. F. Madden, Andrew C. Heath, Timothy D. Spector, Nicholas G. Martin, Sarah E. Medland

Institutions: The University of Queensland, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Washington University in St. Louis, St Thomas' Hospital, King's College London

Language: English

Topic: Genetic Associations and Epidemiology

Subfield: Genetics

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: Wellcome Trust, National Institutes of Health, National Health and Medical Research Council, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institute on Drug Abuse

Awards: The Genetics of Vulnerability to Nicotine Addictions, G1398898637, G2050042542, G2268797580, G2561471519, G276759004, G3548961933, G412057792, G4471409110, G4682775164, Molecular Epidemiology of Alcoholism 1: Candidate Gene, G5453654843, G6129226368, G8879572479

OpenAlex ID: W2149401431

FWCI: 0.685

Cites: 17

Cited by: 57

Related to: 10