Manuscript Topics

Exposure to ethanol during development causes a broad range of abnormalities in many organisms, including insects, mammals, and other vertebrates. In humans, alcohol consumption during pregnancy can result in persistent growth deficiency, craniofacial dysmorphologies, behavioral problems and mental retardation. These symptoms are collectively described as fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). FAS/D is a significant societal problem, as 10–15% of pregnant women continue to drink. Thus, despite decades of public awareness campaigns, the prevalence of FAS remains steady at about 1 in 1000 births.

Human epidemiological data, twin studies, and animal models indicate that genetic factors confer risk for and protection from fetal alcohol injury. However, it is only recently, using genetically amenable animal models such as zebrafish and Drosophila, that genes altering susceptibility to developmental alcohol exposure have begun to be identified. Discovery of how gene expression is affected by developmental ethanol exposure will increase our understanding of the neurodevelopmental pathways that are altered by exposure to ethanol, which in turn may lead to the identification of drug targets for intervention in cases of fetal ethanol exposure.

This special issue invites articles that highlight identification of genetic factors contributing to sensitivity to developmental alcohol exposure, investigations into the molecular targets of developmental alcohol exposure, and insights into pharmacological modulation of developmental alcohol effects.

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