Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026
05:34
Operating and Biocontainment Procedures of a Facility for Laboratory Mice with a Natural Microbiome: Immunophenotyping Procedure
Published on: December 13, 2024
On the subspecific origin of the laboratory mouse
Hyuna Yang1, Timothy A Bell, Gary A Churchill
1The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609, USA.
Nature Genetics
|July 31, 2007
Summary
The laboratory mouse genome is primarily Mus musculus domesticus, with nonrandom diversity distribution across chromosomes. Wild-derived mouse strains show significant intersubspecific introgression, impacting evolutionary studies.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Evolutionary Biology
- Mammalian Genetics
Background:
- The laboratory mouse genome is hypothesized to be a mosaic of distinct subspecific origins.
- Understanding the precise origins and diversity patterns is crucial for genetic research and evolutionary studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create a high-resolution map detailing the subspecific origins of the laboratory mouse genome.
- To identify regions of low and high genetic diversity and assess the extent of intersubspecific introgression in wild-derived strains.
Main Methods:
- Generation of 25,400 phylogenetic trees at 100-kb intervals across the entire mouse genome.
- Analysis of genomic diversity patterns and subspecific origins using phylogenetic approaches.
Main Results:
- On average, 92% of the laboratory mouse genome originates from Mus musculus domesticus.
- Markedly nonrandom distribution of genetic diversity across chromosomes, with identified regions of extremely low diversity ('blind spots') and high diversity ('hot spots').
- Contrary to the mosaic model, most of the genome exhibits intermediate intrasubspecific variation; wild-derived strains display significant intersubspecific introgression.
Conclusions:
- The laboratory mouse genome is predominantly Mus musculus domesticus, but with complex and nonrandom patterns of genetic diversity.
- The presence of 'blind spots' and 'hot spots' has significant implications for studying natural variation and complex traits.
- Substantial introgression in wild-derived strains challenges assumptions of subspecies purity, necessitating re-evaluation for evolutionary research.
