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Nucleotide variation in wild and inbred mice
Tovah Salcedo1, Armando Geraldes, Michael W Nachman
1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA.
Genetics
|December 13, 2007
Summary
Wild mice harbor significant genetic variation crucial for complex trait studies. Laboratory mouse strains capture only a fraction of this diversity, highlighting the value of wild populations for genetic research.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- The house mouse (Mus) is a key model organism for complex trait genetics.
- Classical inbred mouse strains, derived from multiple species, limit understanding of natural genetic variation.
- Limited knowledge exists on genetic variation distribution among wild mouse species and its relation to inbred strains.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distribution of genetic variation in wild house mouse populations (Mus domesticus and Mus musculus).
- To compare genetic variation in wild mice with that found in classical inbred laboratory strains.
- To assess the utility of wild mice as a resource for genetic studies.
Main Methods:
- Sequencing of intronic regions from five X-linked loci in large samples of wild M. domesticus and M. musculus.
- Comparison with published data from X-linked and autosomal loci in wild mice.
- Resequencing of classical inbred strains across 29 loci.
Main Results:
- Low nucleotide diversity was observed in both wild M. domesticus and M. musculus.
- M. domesticus and M. musculus diverged less than 500,000 years ago, with varied gene genealogy patterns.
- The X chromosome showed greater differentiation between species than autosomes.
- Inbred strains possess substantially less genetic variation than wild mice, with the X chromosome proportionally less variable.
- Variation in inbred strains originates from both inter- and intra-specific differences.
Conclusions:
- Wild mice represent a vital reservoir of genetic variation underutilized in laboratory studies.
- Wild mouse populations offer a valuable complement to inbred strains for dissecting the genetics of complex traits.
- Understanding the genomic variation in wild populations is essential for advancing genetic research.
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