system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Alcohol (ethanol) is such a simple molecule with no chiral centers. So how does such a simple molecule give such specific effects in the body and brain? 

I know it is thought to affect GABA in the brain but with how simple of a molecule it is I would expect it to affect a wide range of neurons and neurotransmitters. What is the deal scientists?
gpt
It's not really that strange that simple molecules can have adverse effects on our body. Another example is Nitric oxide, NO, which is far simpler yet it's still used as a neurotransmitter in many parts of the body.

Now, GABA receptors in the brain have what are called allosteric binding sites, which are binding sites for effector molecules to regulate the protein's activity. Ethanol is just one of the molecules which can bind to these sites. Other examples are anesthetics, steroids and other psychoactive drugs. Exactly how this works is a whole deal more complicated, however.