Enables extracellularly glycine-gated chloride channel activity and glycine binding activity. Acts upstream of or within several processes, including monoatomic ion transport; regulation of neuron differentiation; and response to amino acid. Located in membrane. Is expressed in brain; hindbrain; and spinal cord. Used to study hyperekplexia. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in hyperekplexia 1. Orthologous to human GLRA1 (glycine receptor alpha 1).