Alcoholism has plagued human societies since ancient times. Long misunderstood as a moral or social problem, it was recognized in the 20th century as a disease. Recent evidence from molecular biology and population studies has shown that this disease has a genetic basis.

Virgil and June Waggoner of Houston, Texas, have given $5 million to The University of Texas at Austin to create a research center that will study the connection between genetics and alcoholism. UT has hired world-renowned molecular geneticist R. Adron Harris to direct the center, and The University has given him a wing of a new biology building for his work.

"We want to provide the resources to build at UT the premier research center on alcoholism in the world," says Mary Ann Rankin, dean of the College of Natural Sciences.

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