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Meander tail: a recessive mutant located in chromosome 4 of the mouse
Abstract:
A variable kinked-tail mutant was found in 1974 in a moderately inbred stock of mice at Iowa State University, Ames. It was named meander tail and was shown to be completely recessive. Study 8 alizarin-stained skeletons showed all degrees of ankylosis or fusions of tail vertebrae and occasionally other vertebrae. Extreme examples had great reduction in number of tail vertebrae. Affected mice over 2 weeks old commonly also show some unsteadiness, presumably a pleiotropic effect of the mutant. Less commonly, one or both hind legs showed some paralysis. Linkage tests of the mutant, symbolized mea, place it fairly close to brown, b, in chromosome 4, and apparently in the small segment between Ps and Pt.
Insights
A newly discovered mouse mutant, meander tail (mea), exhibits variable tail kinks and vertebral fusions. This recessive mutation also causes unsteadiness and hind leg paralysis, linked to chromosome 4.
Area of Science:
- Genetics and Developmental Biology
- Mammalian Genetics
- Mutant Phenotyping
Background:
- A variable kinked-tail mutation was identified in a mouse stock in 1974.
- The mutation, termed meander tail (mea), was characterized as completely recessive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the phenotypic effects of the meander tail (mea) mutation in mice.
- To determine the genetic linkage of the mea mutation within the mouse genome.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 8 alizarin-stained skeletons from affected mice.
- Phenotypic observation of vertebral structure and neurological deficits.
- Linkage analysis to map the mea gene on mouse chromosome 4.
Main Results:
- Observed variable degrees of ankylosis and fusion in tail vertebrae, with occasional involvement of other vertebrae.
- Extreme cases showed a reduced number of tail vertebrae.
- Affected mice over 2 weeks old commonly displayed unsteadiness and, less frequently, hind limb paralysis, suggesting pleiotropic effects.
- Linkage tests placed the mea mutant near the brown (b) locus on chromosome 4, within the Ps-Pt segment.
Conclusions:
- The meander tail (mea) mutation in mice results in significant vertebral abnormalities, primarily affecting the tail.
- Pleiotropic effects include motor coordination deficits and potential hind limb paralysis.
- The mea gene is located on mouse chromosome 4, providing a new marker for genetic mapping studies.