JANET JACKSON REGRETS SUPER BOWL APOLOGY: Singer discusses incident with Oprah; comments on current status with Justin.
*Oprah Winfrey is the latest to grill Janet Jackson about the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show, when a duet with Justin Timberlake turned into a peep show starring her right breast.
Last Sept. 7, Jackson taped an interview with the talk show queen to promote the Sept. 26 release of her upcoming album “20 Y.O.” When the inevitable questions about her wardrobe malfunction came up, the 40-year-old superstar said she regrets issuing an apology days after the incident because it made her look guilty for something that was unintentional.
Jackson also told Oprah that she has not spoken to Timberlake since
their Feb. 1, 2004 performance, when he punctuated the end of his song “Rock
Your Body” by ripping off a portion of her costume to expose her breast.
When Winfrey asked if she felt betrayed by the former boy band
singer, Jackson skirted around the question before saying: "Loyalty comes
first to me." The singer added that she doesn’t hold a grudge against Mr.
Sexyback, and still considers him a friend.
Janet’s beau Jermaine Dupri joins the performer for a portion of the
interview, which is scheduled to air Monday (9/25).
THREE 6 MAFIA GETS REALITY SHOW: Ashton Kutcher to co-executive produce series for MTV.
*MTV cameras will shadow members of Memphis rap group Three 6 Mafia
as they attempt to expand their Hollywood presence in the wake of an Academy
Award.
“Adventures in Hollyhood,” to be co-executive produced by actor
Ashton Kutcher, will be set in Los Angeles and follow the group as they
attempt to “establish themselves as Hollywood players.”
The act’s crossover profile has skyrocketed since picking up a best
original song Oscar for "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp," their track from
the soundtrack to “Hustle & Flow.” On Monday, Three 6 Mafia performed on the
pilot episode of NBC’s “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.”
BEYONCE EARNS THREE MOBO AWARDS: Peas, Sean Paul, Jay-Z also earn statues at ceremony honoring black music.
*Long criticized for favoring U.S. artists, the MOBO (Music of Black
Origin) Awards were held Wednesday night in London and saw an American
artist earn the most statues of the evening.
Beyonce Knowles was not in attendance, which led to a smattering of
boos during the three times her name was announced as a winner – for best
international female, best song and best video for "Deja Vu," featuring
Jay-Z.
Jay-Z also won for International Male, joining other American
victors Sean Paul (Best Reggae), the Black Eyed Peas (Best Group) and
Rihanna (Best R&B).
UK singer Corrine Bailey Rae, 27, earned two prizes – Best UK Female
and Best U.K. Newcomer – for her single "Put Your Records On."
British rapper Akala, the 22-year-old younger brother of Ms. Dynamite
– whose album, “It’s Not a Rumour” was released in May – took the best
hip-hop prize in a category that included Busta Rhymes and Kanye West.
"I didn't expect this," Akala said. "I know the album did really
well, but I was the least known in my category."
Meanwhile, jazz fans staged a protest outside of the ceremony held at
London’s Royal Albert Hall because organizers have removed the genre as a
category.
"The removal of the jazz category undermines the original spirit of
the MOBO awards, and ignores the place of jazz in the heritage of black
music and its influence on all other forms of popular music,” read a
statement from the protesters led by trumpeter/vocalist Abram Wilson.
“Despite several complaints from the jazz community, MOBO has failed to
reinstate the award.”
Here is the full list of MOBO winners:
Best Group: Black Eyed Peas
Best U.K. Female: Corinne Bailey Rae
Best U.K. Male: Lemar
Best Song: Beyonce, "Deja Vu," featuring Jay-Z
Best International Female: Beyonce
Best International Male: Jay-Z
Best U.K. Newcomer: Corinne Bailey Rae
Best Hip-Hop: Akala
Best Reggae: Sean Paul
Best D.J.: Steve Sutherland
Best African Act: Batman Samini
Best Vide Beyonce, "Deja Vu," featuring Jay-Z
Best R&B: Rihanna
Best Gospel: Nu Life
BENZINO, MAYS, VALDES REGROUP WITH NEW MAGAZINE: Hip Hop Weekly hits newsstands on Oct. 16th.
*Source magazine founders David Mays and Ray “Benzino” Scott – fired
from the monthly in January – have teamed with Vibe magazine’s fired
editor-in-chief Mimi Valdes to create Hip Hop Weekly, a new entertainment
news and celebrity lifestyle publication set to launch on Oct. 16.
The magazine will also feature a weekly column from New York radio
personality Star, the former Power 105 personality fired by parent company
Clear Channel after launching a scathing verbal assault on a rival DJ. Star
will author the column along with his old radio partner Buc Wild; and gossip
maven Wendy Williams will also contribute to the publication each week.
"This is a great day for our team up at Hip Hop Weekly and for
hip-hop as a whole," said Benzino, Chief Brand Executive of Hip Hop Global
Media, the holding company that is backing the launch of Hip Hop Weekly. "I
want the readers to know that they can expect something incredible. It only
makes sense, considering that between myself, Dave, Mimi, Wendy and Star,
the years of experience we have -- stretching from the street side to the
corporate side to magazines to radio to TV -- is incomparable. We will
continue to give the people what they desire, and that's the realness, which
they will now be able to get every week in our new magazine."
Valdés will serve as Hip Hop Weekly's Executive Vice President and
Editor-In-Chief, as well as its co-owner.
"With HHW's revolutionary format, we're better equipped to document
this culture as it happens,” she said in a statement. “Readers can depend on
us for insight, criticism, and perspective on how hip-hop influences the
world. Our entire team, both business and editorial, is filled with
passionate fans that understand the hip-hop lifestyle. Believe me, that's
going to make all the difference."
SHAR JACKSON SETS RULES FOR K-FED: Actress warned Britney’s husband against being a ‘convenient’ babydaddy.
*Actress Shar Jackson says she had a little talk with Kevin
Federline, the father of her three children, to ensure that he wouldn’t
unintentionally favor his kids with wife Britney Spears over their own.
The former “Moesha” star says she accepted K-Fed’s 2004 marriage to
the pop star, but laments the damage it may cause her kids if he fails to
give them equal time.
“As far as I was concerned, I was OK that [our] relationship ended,
but the family breaking up is something painful,” she told gossip site
Scoop. "And honestly I didn't let it happen."
“Now in the beginning it was rough, because he was overseas, so I
really didn't have much control over there. But when he came back home, I
told him, 'Kevin, I'm not going to let you be a convenient father, when it's
convenient for you. If you are going to be part of these kids' lives, then
you're going to be a part. If not, then you're not.'"
Jackson adds that she and her kids view Spears and her two children
with Federline as “extended family,” but she's yet to meet one-year-old Sean
Preston and newborn Sutton Pierce because, she says, "I keep my distance."
BET PLUGS JANET; ANNOUNCES ‘MOST INFLUENTIAL’: Web site previews ‘20 Y.O.’; TV special lists power players.
*BET.com is allowing folks to hear Janet Jackson’s upcoming album
’20 Y.O.’ in its entirety through Sept. 26, the day the album is due in
stores. Meanwhile, the network is preparing to air a special that counts
down the top 25 most influential black leaders in the world of business,
entertainment sports and politics.
Hip-Hop mogul Jay-Z, Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois), Merrill
Lynch CEO Stanley O'Neal, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and basketball
Hall-of-Famer Magic Johnson are among the notables making the cut on “BET’s
Money. Power. Respect.,” airing 10 p.m. Sept. 29 with host Tony Rock.
Aside from the individual's net worth, BET also took into
consideration their visibility, impact on society, and most importantly
reputation.
"With so many powerful black people in the world, narrowing down a
comprehensive list of the top 25 was a tough one," said Reginald Hudlin,
BET's President of Entertainment. "We set up a system to measure wealth,
influence and their approval rating across the nation; and the results were
surprising. Depending on what you value most – money, power or respect – you
may disagree with the ranking, but you can't contest our roster."
Meanwhile, Janet fans can log onto BET.com’s Transmission site to
hear every track off the singer’s new album, “20 Y.O.” before it hits stores
on Tuesday.
Transmission previews top albums in hip-hop and R&B a week in advance
for BET.com users. Past Transmissions include Lil' Kim's “The Naked Truth”;
Tweet's It's Me Again; and T.I.'s “25 To Life.”
AUTHOR SUES PRODUCERS OF ‘GIRLFRIENDS’ SPINOFF: Woman claims “The Game” is too similar to her book, ‘Game.’
*An author has named television exec Mara Brock Akil in a $40 million
lawsuit alleging that her new CW series, “The Game,” is too similar in
concept to an unpublished novel she wrote, titled “Game.”
Filed Sept. 14 in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, author Staci
Robinson seeks $40 million from Akil, other producers on the show, the CW
and its owners. Robinson also seeks a temporary restraining order to prevent
the network from airing the series, which is scheduled to premiere next
Sunday (10/1).
In her lawsuit, Robinson says she passed Akil a manuscript of her
novel in 2001, when she interviewed for a writers assistant job at Kelsey
Grammer's Grammnet Prods. Akil and Grammnet are named as defendants in the
suit, along with CW and its owners, CBS and Warner Bros.
Both the novel and show follow a woman who is torn between her
college dreams and a love interest in the NFL, according to the suit.
DUQUESNE PLAYERS PRESS ON FOLLOWING SHOOTING: Third suspect arrested Wednesday; team attempts to move forward.
*Duquesne University basketball players are trying to restore a sense
of normalcy in the wake of five players being shot following a Black Student
Union dance.
"We've got to keep on playing," said senior Kieron Achara, one of two
players from last season's 3-24 team that coach Ron Everhart rebuilt by
recruiting 10 new players — four of whom were shot. "There are times we're
going to be down, but I know I've got teammates who've got my back and will
look out for me and lift me back up again."
Meanwhile, 18-year-old William Holmes is the third person to be
arrested in connection with the shooting. Brandon Baynes, 18, was jailed
Tuesday on similar charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault,
criminal conspiracy and weapons-related offenses. The third person,
19-year-old Duquesne student Brittany Jones, was arrested Monday on charges
of reckless endangerment, carrying a firearm without a license and criminal
conspiracy.
According to AP, the shootings took place shortly after the dance
ended when several non-students apparently became upset when Jones began
flirting with one of the players.
Duquesne President Charles J. Dougherty said he hoped arrests would
put the university on "the road back to normalcy and back to the safety and
security that we have known for years on our campus.'
OPENING THIS WEEK: Kam's Kapsules -- Weekly Previews That Make
Choosing a Film Fun
For movies opening September 22, 2006
Kam Williams
BIG BUDGET FILMS
All the King's Men (PG-13 for sex, violence and partial nudity) This remake
of the 1949 Academy Award-winning Best Picture adapted from the Robert Penn
Warren novel stars Oscar-winner Sean Penn as a populist, Southern politician
loosely based on legendary Louisiana Governor Huey Long. Talented cast
includes Academy Award-winner Anthony Hopkins, nominees Kate Winslet, Jude
Law and Patricia Clarkson, plus James Gandolfini and Mark Ruffalo.
Fearless (PG-13 for martial arts action) Jet Li stars in this bio-pic based
on the life of legendary Chinese spiritual guru and martial arts master Huo
Yuan Jia (1869-1910), the visionary generally credited with turning karate
from a form of fighting into a spectator sport.
Feast (R for sex, expletives, drug use, graphic violence and pervasive gore)
High-attrition horror comedy about the struggle to survive of patrons
trapped inside a tavern under attack by a swarm of flesh-eating creatures.
Cast includes Jason Mewes, Henry Rollins, and Anthony 'Treach' Criss.
Flyboys (PG-13 for war violence and some sexual content) WWI docudrama
chronicles the heroics of a squadron of 38 American fighter pilots, known as
the Lafayette Escadrille, who volunteered to fly for the French military
before the U.S. entered the war. Cast includes James Franco, Jean Reno and
Tcheky Kayro.
Jackass: Number Two (R or sex, expletives, nudity, crudity and extremely
dangerous stunts) Johnny Knoxville and company return for another round of
death-defying feats and generally outrageous inanity. Usual suspects include
Steve-O, Bam Margera, Chris Pontius, Ryan Dunn, and acrobatic dwarf Jason
Acuna.
INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS
American Hardcore (Unrated) Rockumentary revisits the American punk rock
scene between 1980 and 1986 via a mix of professional and amateur
performance and anecdotal footage featuring such acts as Circle Jerks,
Jerry's Kids, Minor Threat, Gang Green, Cro-Mags, Black Flag, Bad Brains,
Moby, Negative F/X and Henry Rollins.
Bandidas (PG-13 for sex, nudity and violence) Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz
co-star in this western, set in turn-of-the-century Mexico, as a couple of
latter-day Robin Hoods who rob banks in order to provide for peasants whose
quality of life has deteriorated due to the encroachment of American
business interests. With Dwight Yoakum, Steve Zahn and Sam Shepard. (In
Spanish and English with subtitles)
Home (Unrated) Inner-city documentary chronicles the efforts of a single
mother of six to buy her first home in order to give her kids a chance to
escape their drug-infested, gang-controlled Newark neighborhood.
Jesus Camp (Unrated) Documentary on America's evangelical subculture
examines the goings-on at a Christian camp by chronicling the stay of a trio
of Bible-thumping kids inclined to express their devotion to the Lord.
Renaissance (R for sex, expletives, nudity and violence) Set in Paris in
2054, this animated, sci-fi adventure unfolds in a totalitarian state where
a citizen's every move is monitored and recorded. With voicework provided by
Daniel Craig, Ian Holm and Catherine McCormack.
FILM/TV BITS: Keys on Nick Jr.; Richardson in ‘Legend’; Delano on
‘Mullally’; Tyrese behind ‘12th Man’; ‘SNL’ drops Finesse; Rosie on Oprah &
Gayle.
*Alicia Keys can add voiceover work to her resume thanks to a guest
appearance on the Nick Jr. series “The Backyardigans.” In an Oct. 9 episode
titled “Mission to Mars,” the Grammy winner will voice a green alien who
joins the gang in a musical space adventure, reports MTV. The singer’s real
life niece, Shakyra Lipscomb, voices baby Martian Boinga. Keys is also
tapped to contribute an original song, titled “Almost Everything Is Boinga
Here."
*Salli Richardson has been added to the cast of Will Smith’s upcoming
film, “I Am Legend,” reports Blackfilm.com. The actress will play Ginny, the
wife of Will Smith’s character Robert Neville, who seems to be the only
human left on earth following a catastrophic plague. Also joining the cast
is Alice Braga, the niece of legendary Brazilian actress Sonia Braga.
*Smooth jazz artist Andre Delano was hired as the saxophone player
for the house band at “The Megan Mullally Show,” a new syndicated daytime
talker hosted by the “Will & Grace” actress. On Sept. 24, Delano and his
band will perform live at the 3rd Annual Riverside Jazz Festival
(www.riversidejazzfestival.com) in Riverside, Calif. For more info on
Delano, visit www.andredelano.com or www.myspace.com/AndreDelano.
*Tyrese is set to executive produce a new sci-fi thriller called
“12th Man,” reports Moviehole.net. The singer/actor will team with
writer-producer Rock Shaink (“The Seed”) on the project, which follows a man
who wakes up aboard a dying space prison, with no memory of who he is, two
hours of oxygen left, and eleven of the universe's deadliest criminals
between him and the last escape pod.
*Finesse Mitchell will not be returning to NBC’s “Saturday Night
Live” when it debuts its 32nd season next week. The network delivered the
news by leaving his name off of a press release touting the new season. Also
not included were fellow cast members Chris Parnell and Horatio Sanz. The
network denied any bad blood between the dearly departed and producer Lorne
Michaels. "I believe there were mutual choices made," NBC rep Marc Liepis
told E! Online. “Saturday Night Live” kicks off its new season Sept. 30,
with host Dane Cook and musical guest The Killers.
*After heaping praise on Oprah Winfrey’s season premiere Monday,
which featured the host and her best friend Gayle King driving across
country, Rosie O'Donnell’s “View” co-star Joy Behar brought up the gay
rumors that have long surrounded the pair. Rosie told Tuesday’s audience
that the celebrity duo might be “a little gay,” further explaining: “You
might be a little bit gay, you're just not doin' it.” She then clarified
things by stating that everyone could be “a tiny bit gay.”
MUSIC BITS: Etheridge guilty; Game LP; Usher’s replacement; new Legend.
*Mario Etheridge, the 28-year-old bouncer who shot and killed rapper
Proof, was found guilty of carrying a concealed weapon and shooting the gun
indoors during the April 11th incident at a Detroit nightclub. Etheridge
allegedly fired warning shots into the ceiling to break up a fight between
his cousin, Keith Bender, and Proof, whose real name was DeShaun Holton.
Proof then shot Bender, causing Etheridge to fire on Proof. Bender and Proof
were both killed in the exchange. "There was too much testosterone in the
club, and [Etheridge] added another cupful," assistant county prosecutor
Elizabeth Walker told Detroit News following the verdict. "You're not going
to make a situation better by bringing a gun into it.” Etheridge remains
free on bond until his sentencing. He faces up to five years in prison.
*As his beef with Ras Kass continues to simmer, The Game is looking
ahead toward the release of his upcoming album, “The Doctor’s Advocate,”
which will feature a who’s who of the hip hop universe. He tells
Allhiphop.com: "I got Nas on a record. Busta's back on the album. I did a
song with Mary (J Blige), Marsha from Floetry. I got Tha Dogg Pound on the
album. I didn't have Snoop on my first album, so I had to get him on this
one. I got Kanye rappin' on this album too. And we got production by Just
Blaze, Kanye, Scott Storch, Will.i.am. I worked with Swizz on this album. We
went and seen Timbaland. I was in with (Dr.) Dre on this album."
*When Usher takes his final bow in Broadway’s “Chicago” on Oct. 14,
his role as shady lawyer Billy Flynn will be up for grabs until Nov. 20,
when 80s rocker Huey Lewis returns to the part through Jan. 14, 2007. No
announcement has been made regarding Usher’s replacement in the five-week
span before Lewis begins. Usher currently co-stars in the musical with
Bianca Marroquin (Roxie Hart), Brenda Braxton (Velma Kelly), Roz Ryan
(Matron Mama Morton), Rob Bartlett (Amos Hart) and R. Lowe (Mary Sunshine).
*John Legend’s new album “Once Again,” featuring 13 tracks executive
produced by the singer himself and Kanye West, is available for pre-order on
JohnLegend.com and iTunes. Legend performed the set’s first single, “Save
Room” and "Heaven" on Thursday’s “Oprah Winfrey Show.” Other songs on the LP
include "Stereo," "Show Me," "Each Day Gets Better," "P.D.A. (We Just Don't
Care)," "Slow Dance," "Again," "Maxine," "Where Did My Baby Go," "Maxine's
Interlude," "Another Again," and "Coming Home." West, Will.I.Am and Raphael
Saadiq are among the producers on the disc.
SPORTS BITS: Tiger defends wife; Black Coaches Assn. releases annual report
card; Roy Jones’ Internet boxing matches.
*Tiger Woods showed the tabloid press his claws at a press conference
in Ireland Wednesday to refute salacious reports regarding his wife. The
golf star threatened to sue publications that featured nude photos of a
woman the magazine claimed was his Swedish wife, Elin Nordegren, along with
stories stating she could be seen on pornography Web sites. "My wife, yes,
she has been a model prior, and she did do some bikini photos," Woods told
reporters. "But to link her to porn Web sites and such is unacceptable, and
I do not accept that at all. Neither does our team." The publisher, Dubliner
Media Limited, issued an apology saying the whole thing was a satire and
didn't expect anyone to take it seriously. Pundits believe the Irish
tabloids were just trying to rattle Tiger before his U.S. team begins the Ryder
Cup competition there today at The K Club.
*The Black Coaches Association said Thursday that NCAA Division I
universities fared better this year in considering minority football
coaching candidates. The BCA now wants those universities to hire more
minority coaches and produce more representative search committees. The
third annual report card showed that a record 12 of the 26 Division I-A and
I-AA schools received overall grades of A, including Buffalo, Columbia and
Southeast Missouri State. However, a record six schools also received F's,
among them Rice, Wisconsin and Boise State. "The fact remains that many of
the schools must continue to improve those categories that they either
performed at the average or status quo level," the report said.
*Boxing fans are now able to catch some matches live on the Internet
via a new service from iSEEsports. The sports television solutions company
this week announced an exclusive one-year renewable online broadcasting
agreement with Roy Jones Knockout Boxing. The series launched its debut
evening of seven bouts on Thursday. "With the invention of this new
technology, we are thrust into a new era in professional boxing, making
changes as we progress," said Jones in a statement. "We are very excited
about this new way of reaching our fans." Audiences will be able to log on
to watch an entire night of their favorite fighters live for $2.99, or they
can catch individual bouts on-demand for $0.99. Log on to
www.iseesports.tv/royjones/boxing.
EVENT CALENDAR: BSAA's red carpet affair honors Jones; Simmons' 'Fireside
Chat' in NYC: Harper hosts Open Book Awards; Howard homecoming; 'Mo'
Tenors.'
*The Black Sports Agents Association (BSAA) will celebrate its 10th
Anniversary with a poolside affair hosted by Nick Cannon this Sunday (9/24)
at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, CA (7000 Hollywood Blvd.). BSAA will
celebrate its decade of achievement from noon to 8 p.m. as part of the
organization's annual Sports & Music Weekend, a two-day conference featuring
top professionals from sports, music, film, radio, television, fashion,
business, technology and finance. During the conference, BSAA Chairman and
CEO Andre Farr will honor legendary publicist Bob Jones with its Legacy
Award. Jones, AKA the Godfather of Publicity, is best known for his
long-time association with Michael Jackson. Also getting props is Quintin E.
Primo III, Chairman and CEO of Capri Capital Advisors, as BSAA's
Entrepreneur of the Year and William Rhoden, author of "Forty Million Dollar
Slaves," as Journalist of the Year. For more information and a full schedule
of events, contact the BSAA at 310-858-6565 or www.blacksportsagents.com.
*Hip Hop mogul Russell Simmons, the founder of Rush Philantrhopic
Arts Foundation, will be a featured speaker on Nov. 1 at the Marriott New
York Financial Center. The "Fireside Chat With Russell Simmons" will be a
highlight of the CRO Conference's 20-speaker roster that includes The Wall
Street Journal Assistant Managing Editor Alan Murray, Triple Bottom Line
best-selling author Andy Savitz, Citigroup Vice Chairman Lewis Kaden, and
senior corporate responsibility practitioners from Pfizer, Xerox and
Timberland, among others. "Russell Simmons has been at the forefront of many
modern cultural movements, driving social change," said Chair Michael
Connor, Editor and Publisher of Business Ethics and The CRO Magazines. "His
participation will enlighten our audience, and reinforce the importance of
corporate responsibility." The CRO Conference attendance is open only to
members of The CRO.
*Actor Hill Harper will host the 2006 Open Book Awards, an event from
African American Literary Awards Inc. to be held Wednesday, Sept. 27 at New
York's Alhambra Ballroom (2116 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. at West 126th St.).
Presenters for the ceremony include Eric Jerome Dickey ("Chasing Destiny"),
Kwame Jackson (NBC's "The Apprentice") and actor Mel Jackson. The show
begins at 6:30 p.m. For more information, please visit
http://www.literaryawardshow.com/
*Today, Howard University is scheduled to announce details
surrounding its 2006 Homecoming celebration, titled Utopia: Pinnacle of
Dreams. Organizers will announce participation by celebrities in the fields
of fashion, film and music during the annual unveiling ceremony, which takes
place from 12 to 1 p.m. at The Punch Out, Blackburn Center on campus. For
more information, call 202-806-4510 or visit www.howarduhomecoming.com.
*Three Mo' Tenors, a theatrically-staged celebration of the
African-American tenor voice, will take place two nights only at
California's Cerritos Performing Arts Center, (12700 Center Court Drive).
Conceived, directed, and choreographed by Marion J. Caffet, the production
spans 400 years of music and crosses eight musical genres, including opera,
Broadway, jazz, blues, soul, spiritual, new school and gospel. For tickets
($42-$67), call 562-916-8500; Groups 1-800-300-4345 or purchase on-line at
www.cerritoscenter.com.
NICOTINE FIX FOR BLACK SMOKERS FOUND IN GENES: Researchers locate genetic link in largest study of its kind.
*A study at the University of Virginia Health System shows for the
first time that nicotine dependence (ND) among African American populations
can be linked to a gene, reports Newswise.
In previous studies, scientists discovered differences in smoking
patterns and in ND across ethnic groups. Analysis of twin studies on smoking
behavior showed that genetic factors are responsible for at least 50 percent
of a person’s tendency toward dependence on nicotine.
“Identifying the genes that predispose a person to nicotine
dependence and understanding the molecular mechanisms are vital to
prevention and treatment,” said lead author Ming Li, Ph.D., associate
professor and head of the Neurobiology Section of the UVa Department of
Psychiatric Medicine. "Given the potential ethnic differences in smoking
patterns and nicotine metabolism, this study may suggest strategies for
identifying genes for tobacco dependence, especially among African American
smokers.”
The researchers conducted a genome-wide scan of 1,261 individuals
representing 402 nuclear families of African American origin, the largest
sample collection of African-American smokers throughout the world. Their
results revealed a region on chromosome 10 that showed a significant linkage
to smoking quantity and other measures of smoking dependence. They also
identified three other regions that met the criteria for linkage to at least
one ND measure. Some of these regions have been linked to smoking behavior
previously, which adds supporting data to the previous studies of nicotine
dependence in other populations.”
The article appears in the October issue of American Journal of Human
Genetics (vol. 79, pages 745-751). To read the article, visit:
http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/AJHG/journal/issues/v79n4/43856/43856.web.pdf