This review has provided an introduction to the tools currently available in the search for genes involved in complex disorders, such as alcoholism, as well as to the issues that likely will be raised by the identification of those genes. This necessarily simplified overview should not convey the impression that the identification of such genes is straightforward. Indeed, many questions remain unanswered, including what study designs are most powerful, what analytic methods are best, and which alcoholism-related traits are most appropriate for analysis. This issue of Alcohol Research & Health explores several of these topics. Many more questions will be raised once genes contributing to alcohol dependence are actually identified. However, the identification of such genes can also yield great benefits. Thus, these genes and their gene products may provide the essential data leading to early intervention for people who are at risk for alcoholism because they have inherited susceptibility genes. In addition, enhanced genetic knowledge may lead to the development of more effective treatment of alcoholic patients through a better understanding of the biochemical pathways involved in disease development.
