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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Genetic And Environmental Factors Influence Drosophila Ethanol Sedation, Rebecca E. Schmitt
Genetic And Environmental Factors Influence Drosophila Ethanol Sedation, Rebecca E. Schmitt
Theses and Dissertations
Alcohol use disorder is a global health issue that affects a significant portion of the population, with affects including both negative mental and physical consequences. Currently, there are few treatment options available to those who suffer from alcohol use disorder, alcohol abuse, or alcohol dependence. Identifying candidate genes or environmental influences would therefore improve the means for possible treatments or identification of those people at risk for alcohol use disorder. Previous studies in humans have demonstrated an inverse association between initial sensitivity and risk for alcohol abuse. This connection allows investigators, and our laboratory, to investigate genetic and environmental factors …
Glial Cell Mechanisms Regulate Alcohol Sedation In Drosophila Melanogaster, Kristen M. Lee
Glial Cell Mechanisms Regulate Alcohol Sedation In Drosophila Melanogaster, Kristen M. Lee
Theses and Dissertations
Approximately 16 million people in America are diagnosed with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) but no efficacious medical treatments exist. Alcohol-related behaviors can be studied in model organisms, and changes in these behaviors can be correlated with either (i) a risk for alcohol dependence or (ii) a symptom/feature of AUD itself. Although AUD is a disease of the central nervous system, a majority of research has focused on the neuronal underpinnings, leaving glial contributions largely undescribed. We used Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) to identify genes whose expression in glia regulates alcohol sedation. Mammals and Drosophila have conserved behavioral responses to alcohol …