Humans are one of the most complex species on the planet there are millions of cells with the human body. Each cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes made up of a substance called DNA within DNA is where you will find genes. Genes are the structures which combine together to make us what we are, ‘Genetic information directs cellular function, determines an organism’s external appearance, and serves as the link between the generations in every species’ (Cummings. K, 1997, 8) [1] Different combinations of genes are what make us individual and different from previous generations. These different combinations are produced when reproduction occurs.
Part of this process is meiosis ‘The process in gametogenesis or sporogenisis during which one replication of the chromosomes is followed by two nuclear divisions to produce four haploid cells’ (Cummings M R & Klug W S, 1997, B11) [2] In other words: a set of chromosomes is replicated and then the two sets of 46 chromosomes (2 diploid cells) are separated into four sets of 23 (four haploid cells)
After the nuclear division of a set of chromosomes has taken place 2 sperm/ovum are created so that 23 of the person’s chromosomes can be passed on to their offspring. However meiosis is made much more complicated by a processed called crossing over; this means that the chromosomes can be broken up and sections of the chromosome can switch over and exchange with each other making a unique combination of 23 chromosomes which can be passed on to the offspring
When the gametes from each parent combine at fertilisation ‘a zygote (fertilized egg cell) with the full complement of chromosomes is produced’ (Pinel J.P.J, 2000, 36,) [3] thus creating an even more unique combination of genetic material. The genes for all the different characteristics are held at certain locations on a pair of chromosomes, for example if there was an abnormality at chromosome 15 at a specific point, a person may have pradea- willi syndrome.
There are several different versions of a particular feature i.e. eye colour these are called alleles these contain are made up of different DNA combinations that make different proteins the proteins. If the alleles are the same (homozygous) and for example contain the genetic code for blue eyes then it stands to reason that the person’s will have blue eyes. If the two alleles are heterozygous (different) then the one which holds the more dominant coding will override the other. These two differing genes are called dominant and recessive genes.
Many Biologists and Psychologists alike believe that these processes are the be all and end all of humans and that ‘the gene sets a course of action and the individual is a slave to this’ (Toates. F, 2001, 14) [4] Genes are at the forefront of the nature side of the nature nurture debate. The view that everything we do including our behaviour and thought processes a predetermined by our genes and there are many conditions for which a genetic cause has yet to be found, one of these is alcoholism.
Alcoholism: ‘A disorder characterized by the excessive consumption of and dependence on alcoholic beverages, leading to physical and psychological harm and impaired social and vocational functioning.’ (Editors of The American heritage Dictionaries, 2000) [5]. This is a universal problem which affects millions of people and their families; its symptoms are ‘impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences and distortions of in thinking, most notably denial’ (Cooney J.G, 2002, 1) [6] Many people believe that alcoholics ‘brought on’ the problem themselves, and many believe that the alcoholic is responsible for their problem, this is indeed true within the recovery process.
On alcohol detoxification units such as that of the Smithfield Unit in Manchester there is only so much that can be done; drugs can be given to alleviate withdrawal symptoms however they do not exterminate the desire to drink and it is left to the individual to determine whether they recover or relapse. The opposing view is that shared by the support group Alcoholics anonymous who like to see alcoholism as a ‘disease’ to which the sufferers have no control over. Trotter and Rush were very much pioneers in the idea that alcoholism is a disease and suggested that alcoholism is a result of ‘a distinct biological defect or dysfunction’ (Gross.R, 2001, 113) [7]