While these studies in mouse models have been successful in identifying regions in the genome associated with alcohol phenotypes of interest, and in some cases have actually identified a QTG or promising QTG candidates, the question remains as to whether the genes that underlie the alcohol-related behaviors seen in mice are the same as those that underlie the behaviors observed in human alcoholics. One procedure that may assist in answering this question is to use mouse QTG data to inform human studies. For example, MPDZ, the human homolog of Mpdz (identified as a QTG for alcohol withdrawal in mice; Shirley et al., 2004), is currently being studied in populations of human alcoholics by NIH-NIAAA intramural scientists with encouraging preliminary results (Dr. David Goldman, personal communication). Additionally, although limited to a small population thus far, Karpyak et al. (2009) recently reported a potential role of MPDZ in alcoholism, though a particular role in the withdrawal syndrome was not apparent. Also, Tabakoff et al. (2009) found that an MPDZ SNP is significantly associated with alcohol consumption based on data from a WHO/ISBRA
