(FORTUNE Magazine) – New research into the baffling causes of alcoholism is unearthing ever deeper clues that it's largely in the genes. And now researchers are making headway in their search for genetic markers that can predict whether an individual is predisposed to alcoholism. If they succeed, children of alcoholics could be warned. A recent discovery by researchers at the University of California's Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center in San Francisco may help identify potential alcoholics. Led by Dr. Ivan Diamond, a team collected white blood cells from alcoholics and nonalcoholics. They cultivated six generations of cells and compared the two groups. Those from alcoholics showed significantly higher levels of a messenger molecule that alters cell activity. Says Diamond: ''This suggests there is a biochemical marker that can actually distinguish alcoholics from the rest of the population.'' The Gallo scientists are now examining the cells of children of alcoholics to see if they can find conclusive proof that alcoholism is hereditary, as previous research has suggested. The studies, says Dr. Carlton Erickson, executive director of the Texas Research Society on Alcoholism in Austin, ''enhance evidence that alcoholism is a disease, not a character defect.'' The American Medical Association and many others already believe this. Conclusive proof, however, will be needed to convince the doubtful -- and to encourage further spending on research. Erickson says treating alcoholism as a disease would benefit employers in many ways. For one thing, they would save money on retraining new employees.