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Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Chromatin Immunoprecipitation of Murine Brown Adipose Tissue
Published on: November 21, 2018
A comparative encyclopedia of DNA elements in the mouse genome
Feng Yue1, Yong Cheng2, Alessandra Breschi3
11] Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, USA. [2] Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, USA.
Mice are key biomedical research models, but have unique regulatory programs. This study maps mouse genome regulation, revealing conserved and divergent elements compared to humans, aiding disease research.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Comparative genomics
- Mammalian biology
Background:
- The laboratory mouse is a premier model organism for biomedical research due to shared protein-coding genes with humans.
- Significant differences exist between mouse and human mammals, particularly in transcriptional and cellular regulatory programs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To gain insights into shared and species-specific transcriptional and cellular regulatory programs in the mouse.
- To compare regulatory elements between mouse and human genomes.
Main Methods:
- The Mouse ENCODE Consortium mapped transcription, DNase I hypersensitivity, transcription factor binding, chromatin modifications, and replication domains across the mouse genome.
- Data was collected from diverse mouse cell and tissue types.
- Comparative analysis with the human genome was performed.
Main Results:
- Substantial conservation of potential functional sequences between mouse and human genomes was confirmed.
- Significant divergence was observed in sequences related to transcriptional regulation, chromatin state, and higher-order chromatin organization.
- Evolutionary forces acting on genes and regulatory regions were illuminated.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a comprehensive resource for understanding mammalian biology and human disease mechanisms.
- Comparative genomic analysis highlights both conserved and divergent regulatory landscapes between mice and humans.
- Findings aid in interpreting mouse model relevance for human health research.
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