Short-term exposure to moderate doses of alcohol causes sedation in humans, mice, fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) and nematode worms (Caenorhabditis elegans), whereas repeated or longer-term exposure to ethanol leads to tolerance in these same species (Crabbe et al., 2006, Davies et al., 2004, Davies et al., 2003, Heberlein, 2000, Kapfhamer et al., 2008, Scholz et al., 2000). Given the conservation in behavioral responses to ethanol, animal models have been used to investigate genetic pathways that influence behavioral responses to the drug. Forward genetic strategies have identified genes important for ethanol-related behaviors in flies (Scholz et al., 2005), worms (Davies et al., 2003) and, more recently, mice (Kapfhamer et al., 2008). Reverse genetic approaches in flies and mice have also been used to examine the influence of genes predicted to play roles in behavioral responses to ethanol (Crabbe et al., 2006, Rodan & Rothenfluh, 2010). Interestingly, flies harboring putative alleles of ethanol responsive genes (Kong et al., 2009, Morozova et al., 2006) or genes that are differentially expressed in flies artificially selected for ethanol sensitivity (Morozova et al., 2007) exhibit altered
