18th International Mouse Genome Conference
17-22 October 2004, Seattle, USA
Plenary Presentations * Oral
Presentations * Poster
Abstracts * Photos
Verne Chapman Memorial Lecture * Table
of Contents * Attendees * Awards
POSTER 127 - REGIONAL MUTAGENESIS OF THE MOUSE GENOME AND THE DETECTION OF NEUROBEHAVIORAL MUTANTS
Goldowitz D 1, Miller DR 4, Swanson D 1, Chesler E 1, Zuo J 3, Ferkin M 2, Mittleman G 2, Hamre K 1, Matthews D 2, Cook M 2, Jablonski M 1, Smeyne R 1, Elberger A 1, Johnson DK 4
1 UT Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States, 2 University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, United States, 3 St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States, 4 Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
The Tennessee Mouse Genome Consortium (TMGC) consists of researchers from eight research institutions. Members from five of these institutions are part of one of the three NIH-funded groups to perform ENU-mutagenesis and screen for neurological phenotypes. The mutagenesis protocol is designed to detect recessive mutants whose mutated gene is localized to a specific region of the genome. This “regional” mutagenesis, using visible or molecular markers, permits the a priori identification of test class mice that can be tested as isogenetic cohorts. This helps greatly with the aging of pedigrees to 18 and 28 months, identification of pedigrees that have developmental lethal mutations, and providing more power for statistically-sensitive traits. To date we have identified over 80 mutant lines of which 26 of these have neurological phenotypes that are identified in the screening protocols and 9 are visible balance or ataxic mutants. The 26 neurological mutants have been identified in screens that examine general behavior, histology, social behavior, drug- and alcohol-related behavior, hearing, or eye. Most recently we have added a screen for adult and pre-weanling seizure activity. The TMGC is engaged in the phenotypic analysis of mutant mice provided by members of the research community and has been distributing mutant mice through our website at tnmouse.org. Currently, mice can be ordered through the common website of the three mutagenesis centers at neuromice.org.