Most. Important. Research. Ever.

Ever!

In the August 11 issue of Nature, a premiere academic journal, is a research article of profound importance: scientists have discovered the hangover gene!

I hereby nominate researchers Henrike Scholz, Mirjam Franz & Ulrike Heberlein for the Nobel Prize in Bitchin' Par-tay Research, Yo.

So, how did these great minds shed light on this ever-so-pertinent situation? I'm glad you asked...
I present to you selected excerpts from the article: "The hangover gene defines a stress pathway required for ethanol tolerance development"

Repeated alcohol consumption leads to the development of tolerance, simply defined as an acquired resistance to the physiological and behavioural effects of the drug. This tolerance allows increased alcohol consumption, which over time leads to physical dependence and possibly addiction. Previous studies have shown that Drosophila develop ethanol tolerance, with kinetics of acquisition and dissipation that mimic those seen in mammals.

In case you didn't know, Drosophila refers to a species of fruit fly. So, yep, fruit flies can get drunk. And they get drunk like we do. (But I hesitate to think they have as much fun we did back in college! Woo-hoo!)

When flies are exposed to ethanol vapour, they become hyperactive, uncoordinated and eventually sedated.

...Sounds about right. (I wonder if they ever wake up next to an ugly fly the next morning and think 'Oh God, what did I do?!)

These effects of ethanol cause loss of postural control, which can readily be quantified in an inebriometer.

Inebriometer. Is this not the coolest sounding scientific apparatus ever? Seriously! That's wicked-cool.

One mutant strain...showed a normal initial [response to alcohol] but a reduced ability to develop tolerance...and was named hangover.

Okay, I guess I should level with you now...hangover is just a clever name for a mutation related to a stress protein pathway that mediates alcohol tolerance. There is no evidence (as of yet) that a mutation in this gene, or any other, has an effect on the frequency or severity of hangovers in humans. (Damn.)
The conclusion of the article states why gettin' flies all hopped up on hooch is important:

In summary, the development of ethanol tolerance in Drosophila engages two systems that function in parallel, one involving a cellular stress pathway defined by the hangover gene and the other involving octopaminergic systems. Octopamine has recently been implicated in the formation of appetitive (sugar-reinforced) memories in Drosophila. The contribution of learned behaviours and stress, at both the cellular and systemic levels, to drug- and addiction-related behaviours in mammals is being increasingly recognized.

So, there you go. Drunk-ass fruit flies = greater understanding of mammalian drug (and other bad stuff) addiction behaviors on a molecular level. Excellent.

Plus they get to use a tool called the inebriometer. Super sweet.

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UPDATE: 8/14/05
I just did a Google search for "inebriometer" and found a funny blog post making fun of a Minnesota scientist's research using an inebriometer. Check it out, it's good. And check out the rest of Cheek.blogspot.com.

Thanks to Cheek I may convert to a belief in the Flying Spaghetti Monster. [Wikipedia link]

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UPDATE: 8/16/05
I found a picture and description of the inebriometer here. Also, WriteDownToAScience is now the #13 hit for "inebriometer" on Google. Maybe if I keep writing inebriometer over and over I'll move higher on the inebriometer hit list? Is that how it works? Inebriometer?
Is it working?


I desperately want to be popular...