Alterations to Gene Drive Mice to Drink
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
Slight alterations in a common gene called CREB makes mice drink 50% more alcohol than their littermates, according to researchers at the University of Illinois. The genetic changes also made the animals more anxious.
The mice were given a free choice between alcohol and sugar water. Humans also have the gene, and understanding how the changes induce drinking may lead to new treatments for alcoholism, the researchers said.
