Networking in Biology: The Hybrid Rat Diversity Panel

One of the most fruitful resources for systems genetic studies of nonhuman mammals is a panel of inbred strains that exhibits significant genetic diversity between strains but genetic stability (isogenicity) within strains. These characteristics allow for fine mapping of complex phenotypes (QTLs) and provide statistical power to identify loci which contribute nominally to the phenotype. This type of resource also allows the planning and performance of investigations using the same genetic backgrounds over several generations of the test animals. Often, rats are preferred over mice for physiologic and behavioral studies because of their larger size and more distinguishable anatomy (particularly for their central nervous system). The Hybrid Rat Diversity Panel (HRDP) is a panel of inbred rat strains, which combines two recombinant inbred panels (the HXB/BXH, 30 strains; the LEXF/FXLE, 34 strains and 35 more strains of inbred rats which were selected for genetic diversity, based on their fully sequenced genomes and/or thorough genotyping). The genetic diversity and statistical power of this panel for mapping studies rivals or surpasses currently available panels in mouse. The genetic stability of this panel makes it particularly suitable for collection of high-throughput omics data as relevant technology becomes available for engaging in truly integrative systems biology. The PhenoGen website ( http://phenogen.org ) is the repository for the initial transcriptome data, making the raw data, the processed data, and the analysis results, e.g., organ-specific protein coding and noncoding transcripts, isoform analysis, expression quantitative trait loci, and co-expression networks, available to the research public. The data sets and tools being developed will complement current efforts to analyze the human transcriptome and its genetic controls (the Genotype-Tissue Expression Project (GTEx)) and allow for dissection of genetic networks that predispose to particular phenotypes and gene-by-environment interactions that are difficult or even impossible to study in humans. The HRDP is an essential population for exploring truly integrative systems genetics.