Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2000;20:1425-1429
© 2000 American Heart Association, Inc.
Brief Reviews |
Viewpoint: Are Studies in Genetically Altered Mice Out of Control?
From the Departments of Internal Medicine and Physiology & Biophysics, The University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City.
Correspondence to Curt D. Sigmund, PhD, Chair, Molecular Biology Interdisciplinary Program, Director, Transgenic and Gene Targeting Facility, Department of Internal Medicine and Physiology & Biophysics, 2191 Medical Laboratory, The University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242. E-mail curt-sigmund{at}uiowa.edu
Abstract—Because the use of transgenic and gene-targeted models has increased in popularity, the number of reports describing unpredictable phenotypic effects caused by variation in the genetic background used to generate or propagate these models has steadily increased. There are now many examples in which animals containing the same exact genetic manipulation exhibit profoundly different phenotypes when present on diverse genetic backgrounds, demonstrating that genes unrelated, per se, to the ones being targeted can play a significant role in the observed phenotype. Herein, I will discuss (1) the source of genetic variability in mutant mouse models, (2) the appropriateness of using inbred mice as controls, and (3) strategies to help minimize genetic variation between experimental and control mice.
Key Words: transgenic mice • knockout mice • genetics • epigenetic
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