The large number of genes influencing alcohol response behaviors uniquely contributed by flies and worms highlights the combined analytical power of these iMOs for further understanding molecular–genetic mechanisms underlying behavioral responses to alcohol. The uniquely contributed genes represent a potentially rich resource for exploring conserved gene function in the context of acute behavioral responses to alcohol. Importantly, it is possible that some molecular–genetic processes may be more amenable for study in one model versus the other. The overlap of genes that influence alcohol response behaviors in both iMOs is also informative; the genes identified in both flies and worms encode a diverse set of proteins that mediate membrane flux of potassium (slo family) and other cations (iav/osm-9 family). Additionally, these gene products participate in histone deacetylation (Sir2 family), alcohol metabolism (Adh/sodh-1 family), and dopamine signaling (Dop1R1/dop-4 family) or have incompletely characterized functions (Clic family). Readers are referred to several excellent recent reviews for additional details on the molecular function of the genes in flies and worms (Davies and Bettinger, 2014; Kaun et al., 2012; Morozova et al., 2012; Rodan and Rothenfluh, 2010a; Rothenfluh et al., 2014).
