According to recent studies, the answer to that question still raises a question mark for most researchers and scientists. Studies show that children of alcohol-dependent parents show a greater risk of developing a problem with alcohol. In fact, one study showed out of 987 individuals from 105 families, there were at least three first degree relatives with alcohol dependency. Other studies have concluded that 20-25% of sons and brothers of alcoholic parents, become alcoholics themselves with only 5% of daughters and sisters. But there are more factors to consider than just genetics.

Although there was a slight link between chromosomes 1 and 7, which could possibly play a role in genetics, environment seemed to be the number one reason for the child of alcohol dependent parents becoming alcohol dependent themselves. Reasons given were the sadness they experienced in their home life as a child as there was little attention left for the child past the alcohol; they lived their lives as adults based on the examples they were given in their observation of their own parents, so the vicious cycle continues.

Personality characteristics, which are partly inherited, were another factor considered and possibly an influence in the child that grows up to become alcoholics. Those seeking excitement in life, the anxious or antisocial had the highest risk. Here again, these personalities are partly inherited by our genes and partially by what we observe from our parents.

There is a growing suspicion that genetics do play a larger role than we are currently aware of in alcoholics that come from alcohol dependent parents. Researchers have discovered a unique gene expression that is more prevalent in alcoholics and among alcoholic families than the general population, and this gene expression also seems to make us more vulnerable to depression and anxiety. However, at this time there is no hard scientific evidence to prove that there is a link between the gene pool and the alcoholic.