Related Experiment Videos
A tail length modifier gene discovered in the Japanese wild mice (Mus musculus molossinus)
A Fujimoto1, N Baba, N Wakasugi
1Laboratory of Animal Genetics, School of Agriculture, Nagoya University, Japan.
Abstract:
The presence of the t haplotypes in strains derived from the Japanese wild mice (Mus musculus molossinus) was investigated. Crosses between the T/+ heterozygous short tailed mice and five normal tailed molossinus strains (MOL-ANJ, MOA, MOL-NEM, MOM and Mns) produced no tailless mice, indicating that these strains possess no t haplotype. In contrast, tailless mice were produced by a cross between the T/+ heterozygotes and a MOL-NIS strain. Mating experiments showed that the tailless character was due to an interaction between the T gene and an autosomal recessive gene carried by the MOL-NIS strain that expresses the short tail character under the homozygous condition. We have tentatively named this gene brachyury-interacting tail length modifier (btm). It remains to be investigated whether the btm gene is located in the t complex region or in the other locus.
Insights
Researchers investigated t haplotypes in Japanese wild mice. They discovered a new gene, brachyury-interacting tail length modifier (btm), in the MOL-NIS strain that interacts with the T gene to cause taillessness.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Mammalian Genetics
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- The t haplotype is a complex of genes on mouse chromosome 17.
- Certain t haplotypes are associated with male sterility and developmental abnormalities.
- Investigating t haplotypes in wild mouse populations provides insights into their genetic diversity and evolutionary history.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the presence of t haplotypes in Japanese wild mouse strains (Mus musculus molossinus).
- To identify genetic factors responsible for taillessness in specific molossinus strains.
- To characterize a newly identified gene interacting with the T gene.
Main Methods:
- Cross-breeding experiments between T/+ heterozygous mice and various molossinus strains.
- Phenotypic analysis of offspring, specifically focusing on tail length and taillessness.
- Mating experiments to elucidate the genetic basis of the observed traits.
Main Results:
- Five molossinus strains (MOL-ANJ, MOA, MOL-NEM, MOM, Mns) did not carry the t haplotype, as evidenced by the absence of tailless offspring.
- A cross involving the MOL-NIS strain produced tailless mice.
- Taillessness resulted from the interaction between the T gene and a recessive autosomal gene (btm) in the MOL-NIS strain.
Conclusions:
- The investigated molossinus strains, except MOL-NIS, lack t haplotypes.
- A novel gene, tentatively named brachyury-interacting tail length modifier (btm), was identified in the MOL-NIS strain.
- The btm gene's location, whether within or outside the t complex region, requires further investigation.