Intestinal stem cell proliferation levels are normal in rhoiks mutants.
Mutant flies show increased sensitivity to ethanol-induced sedation compared to control flies.
Homozygous rhoiks mutants show increased sensitivity to ethanol vapor compared with controls. However rhoiks 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 rhoiks 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 86% of wild-type after a single training session, at 48% after spaced training.
Etymology: Given the name "iks", after one of Pavlov's dogs.