The Ath44 overlaps with Ath1. However, while the B6 allele at the Ath1 locus conferred increased atherosclerosis compared to both the C3H/HeJ and BALB/cJ alleles, the DBA allele of Ath44 was associated with increased atherosclerosis compared to either the B6 or 129 alleles. The gene discussed is ATOH1; the disease is atherosclerosis.