Systems genetics analysis of molecular pathways underlying ethanol-induced behavioral phenotypes

Acute behavioral responses to alcohol have been shown to be contributing factors to alcoholism, a disease that may be associated with high stress levels and brain injury. In this study, the LXS line of recombinant inbred mouse strains is used to develop understanding of the genetic basis of ethanol response, by finding links between genotype, gene expression data, and phenotypes associated with increased locomotor activity in mice treated with ethanol. The results of quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping for phenotypes and gene expression data for LXS mice treated with alcohol are compared with a control group. A method in which Bayesian network modeling is used to discover casual pathways from genotype to gene expression to phenotype is also presented.