Homozygous pxbbaikal mutants do not show any increased sensitivity to ethanol vapor compared with controls. However pxbbaikal mutant flies do show reduced chronic tolerance to ethanol. Whereas control flies exhibit a reduced behavioural response following overnight pre-exposure to a low concentration of ethanol (never reaching intoxicating levels), a similar response in seen in pxbbaikal mutant flies with or without pre-exposure. No change in rapid tolerance is seen; as in controls, the flies exhibit a reduced behavioural response 3.5 hours following pre-exposure to intoxicating levels of ethanol.
In memory tests, mutants perform at 123% of wild-type after a single training session, at 28% after spaced training.
Etymology: Given the name "baikal", after one of Pavlov's dogs.