scientists as party poopers: drunkenness gene discovered

[theivoryqueen]

I DO NOT want to not get drunk!! There are some things that do not need medical intervention!!!

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Scientists find drunkenness gene in worms

Paul Elias

Dec. 12, 2003 | SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Researchers found a gene responsible for drunkenness in worms after plying thousands of the tiny creatures with booze, a discovery that could boost the fight against alcoholism.

The experiment was conducted by University of California, San Francisco researchers and was to be published Friday in the science journal Cell.


Because it is believed that alcohol affects all animals similarly, humans, like worms, may also possess a single gene responsible for drunkenness.

"Our end goal is to find a way to cure alcoholism and drug abuse," Dr. Steven McIntire said. "We hope to develop effective therapeutics to improve the ability of people to stop drinking."

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http://salon.com/news/wire/2003/12/12/drunk_worms/index.html

[SheilaT]

1. Oh, heck, I'm Irish and I knew this

without any silly study involving worms.

[Bill McBlueState]

2. what do worms do

when they're drunk? :shrug: Tie themselves in knots? I'm sure this has been covered in a Far Side cartoon.

[Rabbit of Caerbannog]

3. What if...

you just ate a bunch of these worms before/during drinking? Would this keep you from getting drunk? They can put them on the bar in place of the pretzel mix...

[theivoryqueen]

4. errpghlphtt

I will not ever be eating worms - either to get drunk (hello tequila worm) or to prevent it.

[bitchkitty]

5. Worm pretzels! What a fabulous idea!

You are a genius!

[BlueEyedSon]

6. I wonder if the worms' beverage of choice is Tequila....?

[RossMcLochNess]

7. Of course...

Why else would they be in the bottles? :D