Influence of Genetic Background on Knockout Mouse Phenotypes
Once a knockout allele generated by gene targeting has been introduced into the germline of a mouse, the primary concern is to efficiently screen the animal for mutant phenotypes. This is not necessarily a trivial exercise given the high frequency of unexpected or lack of phenotypes. With the number of published knockout mouse strains approaching 1000, considerable experience has accumulated with respect to these concerns. Some of the most obvious approaches involve developmental surveys at the morphological and histological levels, physiological studies, perturbation of homeostatic balances, introduction of stress or injury, and analysis of mutant organs, tissues and cells in vitro. However, the history of mouse genetics, which in itself can be termed the study of strain-dependent phenotype variability, tells us that as a backdrop to these approaches the genetic background onto which the targeted allele is placed can cause considerable variation in phenotype. This variation can present itself as completely different phenotypes, as variations in penetrance of phenotype, or as variable expressivity of phenotype.
- MicroGenie: Protein Analysis
- SNP Detection and Allele Frequency Determination by SSCP
- Solid Phase PCR Sequencing of Biotinylated Products
- Methods for Analyzing DNA Bending
- Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of Exogenous Gene Expression by the S1 Nuclease ProtectionAssay
- Cloning into M13
- Cardiac Cell Transplantation: Protocols and Applications
- Genomic Libraries: I. Construction and Screening of Fosmid Genomic Libraries
- Delivery of Genes to the Eye Using Lentiviral Vectors
- Immunoprecipitation of MicroRNPs and Directional Cloning of MicroRNAs