Multi-animal model study reveals mutations in neural plasticity and nociception genes are linked to excessive alcohol drinking.

The multi-model analys s used herein largely resolved the confounding effects of random drift and the "founders" genetic background. This allowed for a deeper scrutiny of key genetic features associated with familial AUD. The most differentiated bidirectionally selected genes across all 3 animal models were Scn9a, Scn1a and Kcna1, all of which are annotated in the Nociception or Sensory Perception of Pain ontology. The complexity of nociception adds strength to the hypothesis that "pain" (physical or psychological) is a prominent phenotype genetically linked to the development of AUDs. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.