14 Jun 2009

Gene Protects Alcoholism

In an interesting finding, a study revealed that a gene variant detected among a tribe in Orissa has been protecting them from harmful effects of alcohol.

The study conducted by the department of anthropology at Utkal University here has showed that the Bondas — one the most primitive tribes of Orissa- are immune to the side effects of alcoholism.

Alcohol is an agent of cirrhosis of liver, toxic psychosis, gastritis, pancreatitis, cardiac myopathy and so on. But surprisingly none of these diseases are seen among the Bonda highlanders, who are addicted to different kinds alcoholic beverages.

The reason: presence of a gene variant ALDH2.

Jayant Kumar Nayak, a research scholar of Anthropological Survey of India, in association of with the Utkal University has conducted a study on Bondas to know whether they are genetically protected from alcoholism. On a proportionate random sampling, out of 25 villages, he selected nine for the study covering 714 households of 2,700 population. Genomic DNA was extracted from 110 unrelated adult Bondas by the ASI following ethical guidelines after taking their consents. Both ADH and ADLH2 genes, considered protecting variants for alcohol, were detected.

About Bonda People

7 comments:

Swapnil Thakare said...

it is a cool & interesting quality of presence of gene that nullifies the any side effect of alcoholism for the urrisa tribes "Bondas". that gene must present in every people so as to be minimise the bad effects of alcoholism.

Naresh said...

Its really a good and very interesting news to hear especially for the alcoholic people....

Anonymous said...

good
this is sign of real objervation
with human study in field of functional genomics

Unknown said...

this research will be proved very good in protecting the liver from the illeffect of alcohol

Unknown said...

nice results but it wil definitely increase the tendency of alcohlism.

nidhi said...

Its good to see the news that there's a gene which is working against side effects of alcohol. But my question is "What are the other problems these "Bondas" facing due to this gene?". Is this gene really do not showing any other effect in their body??

Unknown said...

its an interesting secret revealed by Jayant Kumar Nayak.
it will be even more interesting to know the functioning of ADH and ADLH2.

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