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The origin of common laboratory mice
1Department of Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Canada.
Genome
|February 1, 1995
Summary
The house mouse, a key genetics model organism, has inbred strains with mixed subspecies origins due to historical fancy mouse breeding. New strains are needed to represent specific wild populations for accurate genetic research.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Zoology
- Genomics
Background:
- The house mouse (Mus musculus) is a vital model organism in genetic research, with over 400 established inbred strains.
- Many existing inbred strains share common ancestry, tracing back to European fancy mice from the 1920s.
Observation:
- Historical records and molecular studies indicate Japanese fancy mice influenced European stocks, contributing to the development of "old" inbred strains.
- Consequently, numerous common inbred mouse strains possess genomic DNA from multiple Mus musculus subspecies.
Findings:
- The subspecific hybrid origin of many widely used inbred mouse strains is confirmed.
- This complex ancestry impacts the interpretation of genetic data derived from these strains.
Implications:
- The historical limitations of current inbred strains necessitate the development of novel strains.
- New inbred strains representing specific wild mouse populations are crucial for overcoming historical genetic biases and advancing genetic research accuracy.