Mouse Phenome Database: an integrative database and analysis suite for curated empirical phenotype data from...

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Genomics
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• The Mouse Phenome Database (MPD) is a critical resource for mouse genetic studies.
• It aggregates primary experimental trait data, genotypic variation, and protocols from global investigators.
• Data encompass diverse phenotyping endpoints and disease-related traits in various mouse models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a centralized, accessible platform for mouse phenome data.
• To facilitate the analysis of genetic variation, trait co-inheritance, and sex-specific genetic effects.
• To support the development of new mouse models and the assessment of experimental reproducibility.

Main Methods:

• Data curation using ontologies and controlled vocabularies.
• Integration of primary animal data with detailed, searchable protocols.
• Expansion to include QTL Archive, Collaborative Cross, and Diversity Outbred mouse data.

Main Results:

• MPD provides access to a broad scope of phenotyping data from inbred and diverse mouse populations.
• The database supports rigorous curation, enabling data accumulation over time and across laboratories.
• It offers tools for assessing experimental replicability, benchmarking assays, and identifying genetic backgrounds for new models.

Conclusions:

• MPD is an invaluable resource for advancing mouse genetic research and understanding complex traits.
• The database facilitates the identification of genetic underpinnings of diseases and trait variations.
• MPD empowers researchers to analyze sex differences, sex-by-genotype interactions, and improve experimental design.