Novel single nucleotide polymorphisms in the human cholinergic receptor, nicotinic, beta polypeptide 3 (CHRNB3) gene are described. In addition, various genotypes, haplotypes and haplotype pairs for the CHRNB3 gene that exist in the population are described. Compositions and methods for haplotyping and/or genotyping the CHRNB3 gene in an individual are also disclosed. Polynucleotides containing one or more of the CHRNB3 polymorphisms disclosed herein are also described.