via 23/6.. "By doing science things to lung-cancer patients and healthy people, all three teams identified a set of genetic mutations in a region on chromosome 15 that seems to affect the likelihood of people getting hooked on nicotine and/or getting cancer.

So what are the dooming traits that make us reach for the pack? The answers are as surprising as they are yellowed and smelly. "

And the answers are here: http://www.236.com/news/2008/04/03/genetics_are_they_making_you_l_5632.php

Wow, pinkpanther - either you're responding to a different article than the one I read, or you need to take a deep breath (well, try, anyway) and calm down.  I saw nothing about anyone trying to make you quit.  Smoke to your heart's (dis)content - land of the free and all - just don't try and make anyone else pay for your medical care, and we'll be fine.  (Anyway, the distinction between smoking and "work kids home church" is that those things [the first three, anyway] actually contribute to society and don't cost taxpayers money they shouldn't be paying.)  For the record, I quit smoking when my daughter was born, so I've seen this from both sides.

Not enough detail for those of us who have been quitting and going back to cigarettes for years.  This cohort is important, because after the surgeon general's warnings, half the people quit in a few years, but many of the rest have been stalled for years, and this research should be trying to help them!  We already know that schizophreniacs don't do well using the patch; that they need the peaks and valleys of nicotine levels.  And that they and 1/2 of their immediate relatives have an alpha 7 nicotine receptor that desensitizes twice as slowly as normal. (I've always wondered if it explains why we can't separate out the lyrics as well!).  How does this study fit in with what we already know about those who can quit, but feel like they've had a stroke and are still struggling 6 months later to concentrate, or relax without that nicotine?

I linked to this article from MSNBC.  Although this article states only 1 of 3 groups find this gene causes an increased pre-disposition to smoke, MSNBC's big headline read that scientists had found smoking addiction gene although it was fact.  The link to this article showing significant disagreement was much smaller.  I wonder why MSNBC would misprepresent the results of the three studies.  Perhaps finding a gene that gives people an excuse for smoking instead of accepting responsiblity for a choice makes a better headline.

so what yet another ONE out ONE TRILLION health problems that can cause bankrupcy is the question right? Tobacco companies paid but the money paid for the problem paid CEOs at healthcare agencies and will not be there for my bills will it,no that's what it was paid for right???

I enjoy a smoke! who are you to tell me what to do with my freedom, i fought for, sitting in my own home! Im the one who gotta die when it's time for me to die, so let me live my life, the way i want to! Don't you all feel the same about work kids home church and doing things you enjoy cause your time here compared to a mountain is very short enjoy it! I would really like to know who made it mandate to HAVE TO WORK 40hrs a week or suffer! I can think of a lot of things i would rather do but MONEY GREED rule our socity, SO NOW YOU HAVE TO!!! What a way to chose to ,LIVE?