International Mammalian Genome Society

The 15th International Mouse Genome Conference (2001)

Table of Contents * Complex Genetics * Developmental Genetics * Gene Annotation * Gene Discovery * Genome Sequencing * Functional Genomics * Mutagenesis * Presentations * Verne Chapman Memorial Lecture

Dr Erich J Baker
UT Graduate School of Genome Science and Technology & Oak Ridge National Laboratories
1060 Commerce Park
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
PO Box 2008, MS 6480O
Oak Ridge, TN, USA

Co-Authors:  1)Jackson B, 1)Chen GL, 1)Schmoyer D, 2&3)Miller D, 1-3)Snoddy J, and the Tennessee Mouse Genome Consortium
Institutions:   1)Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 2)University of Tennessee Center of Excellence in Genomics and Bioinformatics, 3)UT-ORNL Graduate School of Genome Science and Technology

The Tennessee Mouse Genome Consortium (TMGC) is establishing collaborative research efforts using the mouse. One recent TMGC project involves screening for neurological phenotypes in mice after ethyl-nitrosourea (ENU)-mutagenesis. This project brings together research and academic resources from several institutions (http://www.tnmouse.org) to screen portions of chromosomes 7, 15, 10 and X, approximately 10% of the mouse genome, for mutants.  The competent integration of geographically-distributed phenotyping efforts in different biological systems requires innovative approaches towards integrative bioinformatics.  We will present here a reusable model for the integration of complex data types such as RNA expression and proteomics, that meets the goals intrinsic to comparative phenotype and complex biosystem analysis.

MuTrack v1.0, an On-Line Transactional Database (OLTP), was developed using Oracle8i-backed and password-protected web interfaces generated with PHP.  MuTrack has the capacity to: (1) allow individual researchers the ability to upload information into a central database; (2) track mice and sample flow between disparate institutions; (3) analyze information for statistical anomalies related to novel mutations; (4) statistically analyze for quality control, assurance, and improvement; (5) allow users to view, search, and retrieve queried information on-line; and (6) eventually send data to appropriate mouse strain or community databases that support On-Line Analytical Processing (OLAP) and data mining.  MuTrack is designed to accept and curate data on the location, health status, and experimental progress of thousands of mice, tissue samples and other specimens through senescence and long term storage, and will provide the foundation for information systems capable of building up networks of collaborating scientists.