Use of recombinant inbred strains to detect quantitative trait loci associated with behavior

Recombinant inbred (RI) strains are valuable not only for detecting major gene segregation and linkage but also for identifying associations between behavior and quantitative trait loci (QTL) that account for relatively small amounts of variation in behaviors for which strain distribution patterns are not bimodal. When applied to published data on genetic markers and on behavior for BXD RI strains, the RI QTL association approach suggests the presence of QTLs on chromosomes 6 and 12 for open-field activity and on chromosomes 1, 2, and 17 for high-pressure seizure susceptibility. Because the RI QTL approach does not require that the progenitor inbred strains of a particular RI series differ, researchers could focus on the BXD RI series, for which the greatest number of genetic markers are available. Focusing on BXD would capitalize on the cumulative nature of RI research which permits analyses of QTL sources of genetic correlations across studies.Support for our ongoing research on the RI QTL approach to alcohol-related behavior is provided by NIAAA Grant AA-8125 and the Hanley Foundation.