Drunken flies and a potential alcoholism cure
Posted by Science Oxford on November 4, 2009 | comments
New research (using the help of some drunken flies!) has identified some of the genes responsible for alcohol consumption and therefore have a potential target for curing alcoholism.
Visit this page »Drunken fruit flies have helped researchers identify whole networks of genes—also found in humans—that play a key role in alcohol drinking behavior, according to a study.
Scientists said the investigation identified molecules in the body that could serve as targets on which drugs against alcoholism might act.
The work also sheds light on many of the negative side effects of drinking, such as liver damage, and on why some people tolerate alcohol better than others, said the researchers, from North Carolina State and Boston universities
Studies “in which discoveries from model organisms can be applied to insights in human biology, can make us understand the balance between nature and nurture, why we behave the way we do,” said Robert Anholt, a geneticist at North Carolina State involved with the project.
Anholt and colleagues timed how long it took for fruit flies to lose postural control after exposure to alcohol. Meanwhile, the researchers measured levels of activity in the insects’ genes. Using statistical methods to identify genes that work together, the scientists pinpointed ones that played a crucial role in the response to alcohol exposure.
The scientists then studied whether the same genes contribute to alcohol drinking habits in humans. Indeed they do: activity in the human counterpart of a critical gene in fruit flies could be directly tied to alcohol consumption in humans, said members of Anholt’s group.
The findings are published in the October issue of the research journal Genetics.
“From a scientific point of view, research like this is almost intoxicating,” said Mark Johnston, editor-in-chief of the journal. “We’ve known for a while now that genetics played a role in alcohol consumption, but now, we actually know some of the genes that are involved. As a result of this work, we have a potential drug target for curing this insidious condition.”
What do you think?