Ethanol modulation of gene networks: Implications for alcoholism

► Alcoholism is caused by gene networks influencing signaling in neural pathways affecting component behavioral vectors of alcoholism. ► Study of gene networks in ethanol behaviors entails combined use of genomics, genetics, and bioinformatics. ► Over-representation analysis of ethanol gene sets with existing biological pathways or forming novel gene-gene correlation networks can be used to identify ethanol networks. ► Ethanol might "induce" or increase interactions within a novel gene network or destabilize interactions in an existing network. ► Identifying central modulators of ethanol gene networks might provide novel approaches for intervention in alcoholism.