{{Rsnum
|rsid=279858
|Gene=GABRA2
|Chromosome=4
|position=46312576
|Orientation=minus
|ReferenceAllele=A
|GMAF=0.4311
|Assembly=GRCh38
|GenomeBuild=38.1
|dbSNPBuild=141
|geno1=(A;A)
|geno2=(A;G)
|geno3=(G;G)
|Gene_s=GABRA2
}}{{ population diversity
| geno1=(A;A)
| geno2=(A;G)
| geno3=(G;G)
| CEU | 30.1 | 45.1 | 24.8
| HCB | 23.4 | 56.2 | 20.4
| JPT | 38.1 | 41.6 | 20.4
| YRI | 68.0 | 27.2 | 4.8
| ASW | 47.4 | 47.4 | 5.3
| CHB | 23.4 | 56.2 | 20.4
| CHD | 29.4 | 53.2 | 17.4
| GIH | 53.5 | 42.6 | 4.0
| LWK | 55.5 | 39.1 | 5.5
| MEX | 25.9 | 46.6 | 27.6
| MKK | 41.7 | 46.2 | 12.2
| TSI | 43.1 | 43.1 | 13.7
| HapMapRevision=28
}}
This SNP in the [[GABRA2]] gene has been linked to [[Alcoholism]]. The effect of this SNP, a synonymous change at amino acid residue 132, is unknown, but it does not change the [[GABRA2]] protein sequence.

Carriers of at least one [[rs279858]](G) allele respond slower to the effects of alcohol and are thereby apparently more prone to [[alcoholism]] than carriers of two [[rs279858]](A) alleles. [[Finasteride]], an FDA approved drug for the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy and a modulator of [[GABRA2]], was shown to have more of a blocking effect on [[rs279858]](A) homozygotes. {{PMID|15702134}}

Note that nearby SNPs have been grouped into a haplotype that shows statistically stronger association with alcohol dependence, namely the haplotype consisting of the [[rs279871]](A) + [[rs279845]](T) + [[rs279836]](A) alleles {{PMID|15024690|OA=1
}}.

{{PMID|18482426}} 1050 nicotine-dependent cases and 879 non-dependent [[smoking]] controls [[rs279858]] and [[rs16859834]] aka [[rs2229940]]

{{PMID Auto
|PMID=22501025
|Title=GABRA2 markers moderate the subjective effects of alcohol
|OA=1
}}

{{PMID Auto
|PMID=16080114
|Title=Identification of significant association and gene-gene interaction of GABA receptor subunit genes in autism.
|OA=1
}}

{{PMID Auto
|PMID=18005236
|Title=Human gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptor alpha2 gene moderates the acute effects of alcohol and brain mRNA expression.
}}

{{PMID Auto
|PMID=18634760
|Title=Uncovering genes for cognitive (dys)function and predisposition for alcoholism spectrum disorders: a review of human brain oscillations as effective endophenotypes.
|OA=1
}}

{{PMID Auto
|PMID=18727688
|Title=The role of GABRA2 in alcohol dependence, smoking, and illicit drug use in an Australian population sample.
|OA=1
}}

{{PMID Auto
|PMID=18818659
|Title=GABRG1 and GABRA2 as independent predictors for alcoholism in two populations.
|OA=1
}}

{{PMID Auto
|PMID=19207358
|Title=Further evidence for an association between the gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor A, subunit 4 genes on chromosome 4 and Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence.
|OA=1
}}

{{PMID Auto
|PMID=19335651
|Title=Candidate genes for cannabis use disorders: findings, challenges and directions.
|OA=1
}}

{{PMID Auto
|PMID=19487630
|Title=Role of GABRA2 in trajectories of externalizing behavior across development and evidence of moderation by parental monitoring.
|OA=1
}}

{{PMID Auto
|PMID=20202923
|Title=A genome-wide association study of alcohol dependence.
|OA=1
}}

{{PMID Auto
|PMID=21118274
|Title=Role of GABRA2 in moderating subjective responses to alcohol.
|OA=1
}}

{{PMID Auto
|PMID=21483437
|Title=Impulsiveness and insula activation during reward anticipation are associated with genetic variants in GABRA2 in a family sample enriched for alcoholism.
|OA=1
}}

{{PMID Auto
|PMID=22978509
|Title=Convergence of Genome-Wide Association and Candidate Gene Studies for Alcoholism
|OA=1
}}

{{PMID Auto
|PMID=24166645
|Title=A GABRA2 Variant Is Associated with Increased Stimulation and 'High' Following Alcohol Administration
}}

{{PMID Auto
|PMID=22555154
|Title=Gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptor, alpha-2 (GABRA2) variants as individual markers for alcoholism: a meta-analysis.
}}

{{PMID Auto
|PMID=24975023
|Title=Effect of GABRA2 Genotype on Development of Incentive-Motivation Circuitry in a Sample Enriched for Alcoholism Risk
}}
{{on chip | 23andMe v1}}
{{on chip | 23andMe v2}}
{{on chip | 23andMe v3}}
{{on chip | 23andMe v4}}
{{on chip | Illumina Human 1M}}