Gene mutation makes you more addicted to nicotine — Sorry, just clearing all these backed up links. Interesting stuff in the buffer.

Some of us have a genetic mutation that makes it more difficult for the body to rid itself of nicotine. If you are one of those types, you are more likely to become heavily addicted to nicotine, or smoking, say researchers. Those who carry the gene mutation find it very hard to give up smoking.

Young people who carry this mutated form of the CYP2A6 gene find it especially hard to quit cigarettes.

You can read about this study in the journal Tobacco Control .

The study, carried out in Quebec, Canada, looked at data from 1,200 13 year old kids. 228 of them smoked – however, none of them were not addicted when the study began.

Of those 228, 67 were completely addicted (to nicotine) after two years