There is an increasing amount of evidence suggesting that genetic variations play an important role in AUD (Jacob et al., 2003; Lichtermann et al., 2000; Yasseen, Kennedy, Zawertailo, & Busto, 2010). Several candidate genes have been identified, including the dopamine receptor D2 gene DRD2, serotonin transporter genes 5-HT2A, 5-HT2C and GABA receptor gene GABAα6 (Dick & Foroud, 2003; Schuckit et al., 1999). However, genetic influences on behavior are complex and the influence of any single gene is likely to be modest. Because of their large size and possible involvement with multiple genes in a region of the chromosome, CNVs make a good candidate for research into genetic effects on AUDs. As an exploratory study, genome wide association studies are a logical choice to uncover new genetic variations associated with AUDs.
