In the COGA study, researchers use comprehensive measurements of numerous behavioral and biological traits associated with alcoholism to conduct a thorough genetic analysis of this complex disorder. These analyses have identified several chromosomal regions, particularly on chromosomes 1 and 4, that appear to be linked to several alcohol-related phenotypes and that are now the targets of more detailed analyses. The fact that some of these areas appear to be linked with more than one phenotype strengthens the evidence that genetic factors in these chromosomal regions contribute to the development of alcoholism.
