Directions: Read the given passage carefully to answer the following questions. Each question will have five alternatives as its answer. Choose the correct option as your answer.

Many people are wired to seek and respond to rewards, with the brain interpreting food as rewarding when hungry and water as rewarding when thirsty. However, addictive substances like alcohol and drugs can overwhelm natural reward pathways, leading to cravings and reduced impulse control. Contrary to the popular misconception that addiction is solely a matter of willpower, advances in molecular genetics over the past decade have reshaped our understanding. Scientists and healthcare professionals now widely agree that addiction has a strong neurobiological and genetic basis. As a behavioural neurogeneticist leading a team investigating the molecular mechanisms of addiction, my work combines neuroscience with genetics to explore how alcohol and drugs influence the brain. Recent data from animal models reveals that alcohol and drug abuse directly influences changes in gene expression in areas of the brain associated with memory and reward responses. The genetic choreography within brain cells, where DNA is wound around histones, undergoes alterations due to addictive substances. These alterations range from changes in neuronal connections to behavioural shifts. For example, alcohol and cocaine can cause alternative forms of genes to be expressed, resulting in changes in dopamine receptors and transcription factors linked to reward signalling and neuronal function. The exact mechanisms through which these substances cause changes in gene regulation are still not fully understood, but there are indications, such as alcohol byproducts unwinding DNA in memory circuits. Understanding how addictive substances change cell function is complex, as the version of a gene can be modified before it becomes a functional protein. However, this complexity provides hope, as it suggests that changes to gene expression in the brain aren't permanent and can be influenced by medications and lifestyle choices. Medications for mental health disorders, like antidepressants, can alter DNA modification and gene expression. Additionally, mRNA-based therapies may hold promise for treating alcohol and substance use disorders by targeting crucial signalling pathways linked to addiction. Lifestyle choices, such as dietary changes and intensive meditation, have also been shown to affect gene expression. Introducing healthy practices, including reducing alcohol and drug consumption, adopting a balanced diet, and engaging in regular exercise, can contribute to stabilizing and bringing lasting benefits to both physical and mental health.