One method that has been used in the search for genes contributing to alcohol-related behaviors in these “partial” models of alcoholism in mice is quantitative trait locus (QTL) analyses. QTL analyses can identify regions of the genome linked to the trait of interest. QTL analyses require one or more informative mapping populations (e.g., recombinant inbred strains [e.g., RI, RIX], F2 or advanced intercrosses, selectively bred lines, heterogeneous stocks) and informative genetic markers. Much of the early QTL mapping data in mice were obtained in panels of recombinant inbred (RI) lines of mice that were derived from crosses between D2 and B6 mice; these inbred strains have been extensively studied and differ in many alcohol-related phenotypes such as: voluntary ethanol consumption and ethanol preference (Phillips et al., 1994; Rodriguez et al., 1995; Melo et al., 1996; Gehle and Erwin, 1998; Tarantino et al., 1998; Fernandez et al., 1999; Whatley et al.,1999; Ruf et al., 2004; Belknap and Atkins, 2001), ethanol-induced locomotor responses (Cunningham, 1995; Demarest et al., 1999), loss of righting reflex (Browman and Crabbe, 2000; Bennett et al., 2008), withdrawal
