Researchers find 'drunk gene' in worms

Researchers found that the sober worms had the same mutated gene that appears to make them immune to alcohol's intoxicating effects. The natural job of the gene they found is to help slow brain transmissions. Alcohol increases the gene's activity, which slows down brain activity even more. But if the gene is disabled, as it was in the mutant worms, the brain never gets the chance to slow down.