No association between novelty seeking and the type 4 dopamine receptor gene (DRD4) in two New Zealand samples.

Objective: In 1986 and 1987, Cloninger postulated the existence of the heritable behavioral trait of novelty seeking and its putative underpinnings in the dopaminergic systems of the ventral midbrain. Two widely reported studies found significant associations between novelty seeking and the type 4 dopamine receptor gene (DRD4), although a more recent study did not. The authors' objective was to investigate this association in two New Zealand samples.

Structure and location of the murine adrenoleukodystrophy gene.

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a degenerative neurological disease characterized by the accumulation of very long chain fatty acids in various tissues and demyelination of the central nervous system. The human gene responsible for the disease encodes a membrane-bound ATP-binding transporter protein that is located in peroxisomes. We isolated the mouse adrenoleukodystrophy gene, determined its structure, and mapped it both cytogenetically and genetically.