Researchers identify an enzyme that regulates the action of chronic cocaine. This work elucidates the biochemical basis of addiction and points to possible biochemical interventions. It may also point to a way of quantifying individual differences in genetic susceptibility to cocaine abuse. The press release, quite curiously, does not mention that principal researcher Greengard was a co-winner of this year’s Nobel Prize in Medicine. EurekAlert! And, in another story related to genetic susceptibility to substance addiction, researchers reported that the legendary Chinese weakness for opiates appears to exist. “Mutant genes associated with ‘pleasure and reward pathways’ in the brain make an unusually high proportion of Chinese susceptible to heroin or opium addiction, a two-year study by the Chinese University of Hong Kong has found. Researchers suspect that the Chinese love of gambling may also have a genetic component and are keen to begin blood tests on local gambling addicts.” The Telegraph UK