From alleles to adaptations: Investigating the genetic landscape of C. elegans in response to ethanol

Summary

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a worldwide problem and the risk of developing this disease is partly genetically regulated. Ethanol responses are conserved among mammals and invertebrates. One of such invertebrates is the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans that serves as an important model organism in biological research. C. elegans is a microscopic roundworm with an adult body length of approximately 1 mm and has a rapid reproduction cycle of about 72 hours. C. elegans experiences a range of effects from ethanol exposure including developmental retardation, withdrawal, and reduced locomotory function. This nematode is low-cost and easy to work with in laboratory setting. Therefore, we used the nematode C. elegans as a model organism to investigate the genetic underpinnings and biological mechanisms of alcohol responses.