Scientists Isolate Drunkenness Gene

UC San Francisco researchers found a gene responsible for drunkenness in worms after plying thousands of the tiny creatures with booze.

The discovery could boost the fight against alcoholism. Because it is believed that alcohol affects all animals similarly, humans, like worms, may also possess a single gene responsible for drunkenness.

“Our end goal is to find a way to cure alcoholism and drug abuse,” Steven McIntire said. “We hope to develop effective therapeutics to improve the ability of people to stop drinking.”

The natural job of the gene the researchers found is to help slow brain transmissions. Alcohol increases the gene’s activity, which slows down brain activity even more. But if the gene is disabled, as it was in the mutant worms, the brain never gets the chance to slow down.