Ethanol sensitivity in Drosophila melanogaster based on genotype
Ethanol sensitivity in Drosophila melanogaster based on genotype
Alexa Shumate
Department of Biology
Randolph-Macon College
Ashland, Virginia
Introduction
With a better understanding of the genes and behaviors associated with ethanol sensitivity, there will be new treatments available for alcohol dependence. The main problem in determining what causes dependence to alcohol is whether it is an environmental factor or if it is the genes associated with ethanol sensitivity. Alcohol directly affects a wide spectrum in the nervous system making it hard to pinpoint exactly the mechanisms of ethanol inside the body of an organism (Heberlein, et. al., 2004). Prior evidence shows that ethanol affects the blood right into cell membranes however proteins inside the membrane have been implicated as a target of ethanol (Heberlein, et. al., 2004). The amount an organism is affected by ethanol is determined by the organism’s genetic makeup. In families that have a problem with alcoholism, the young men of the family are less likely to be sensitive to ethanol than young men from a family that does not have alcoholism run in the family (Heberlein, et. al., 2004). People who have a reduced sensitivity to ethanol are at a higher risk of developing alcoholism since they do not receive the negative effects of ethanol as fast as people that are sensitive to ethanol. Studies have shown that the level of response of ethanol (either sensitive or reduced sensitivity) is genetically influenced which could predict the risk of alcoholism in a person (Heberlein, et. al., 2004). Subjects that have high-active ADH2*2 and ADH3*1 alleles create more acetaldehyde, a toxic product of metabolized alcohol, after consuming alcohol and are less tolerant to alcohol (Chai, et. al., 2005).
In order to test if an organism’s genetic makeup would affect the sensitivity to ethanol, Drosophila melanogaster are used because they share similar responses to
Alexa Shumate
Department of Biology
Randolph-Macon College
Ashland, Virginia
Introduction
With a better understanding of the genes and behaviors associated with ethanol sensitivity, there will be new treatments available for alcohol dependence. The main problem in determining what causes dependence to alcohol is whether it is an environmental factor or if it is the genes associated with ethanol sensitivity. Alcohol directly affects a wide spectrum in the nervous system making it hard to pinpoint exactly the mechanisms of ethanol inside the body of an organism (Heberlein, et. al., 2004). Prior evidence shows that ethanol affects the blood right into cell membranes however proteins inside the membrane have been implicated as a target of ethanol (Heberlein, et. al., 2004). The amount an organism is affected by ethanol is determined by the organism’s genetic makeup. In families that have a problem with alcoholism, the young men of the family are less likely to be sensitive to ethanol than young men from a family that does not have alcoholism run in the family (Heberlein, et. al., 2004). People who have a reduced sensitivity to ethanol are at a higher risk of developing alcoholism since they do not receive the negative effects of ethanol as fast as people that are sensitive to ethanol. Studies have shown that the level of response of ethanol (either sensitive or reduced sensitivity) is genetically influenced which could predict the risk of alcoholism in a person (Heberlein, et. al., 2004). Subjects that have high-active ADH2*2 and ADH3*1 alleles create more acetaldehyde, a toxic product of metabolized alcohol, after consuming alcohol and are less tolerant to alcohol (Chai, et. al., 2005).
In order to test if an organism’s genetic makeup would affect the sensitivity to ethanol, Drosophila melanogaster are used because they share similar responses to
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