Human variability is an inevitability – and that is a good thing, as variation is the basis for evolution and the survival of a species. Why some kids are more likely to respond to prevention than others is an inherently interesting question; the idea that the answer lies in their genes is appealing. But surely there is no gene for prevention response, just as there is no gene for alcohol dependence. Genes are simply strings of nucleotides that code for amino acids; that create proteins; that affect the structure, function, and regulation of the body’s tissues and organs; that affect behavioral characteristics, response patterns, and temperaments; that can ultimately influence prevention response. It is a long, winding pathway from genotype to behavior! And it may end up being far easier and cheaper to assess the intermediary behaviors that reflect genetic risk and/or behavioral response than it will be to genotype individuals. Understanding the pathways of genetic risk will likely advance our understanding of mechanism and intermediary risk factors, which can be another piece of information to inform prevention and intervention.
