Phenotyping of Genetically Altered Mice

By C. J. Zeiss, Yale University School of Medicine.

Content:

Introduction
The Initial Anatomic Phenotyping Screen
Embryos
Neuroanatomical Evaluation
Cardiovascular and Skeletal Phenotyping
Information Resources

Genetically altered mice provide superb models of human physiology and disease. They allow us to evaluate the effects of single altered genes in the context of whole organism and provide tremendous insight into gene function. However, they can provide research results that are frequently unexpected, confusing or simply uninformative. The comparative pathologist is required to assess phenotypic impact of single gene alterations on complex molecular pathways. The effects of genetic background and the variability inherent in the gene construct used to create the animals frequently confound this assessment. Finally, findings must be integrated with published information to draw conclusions and design new experiments.

Archived page

Last update 17-Jan-2005, Rating n/a of 0 votes.