Mouse Genome Centre Medical Research Council
Harwell, United Kingdom
The Mammalian Genetics Unit and Mouse Genome Centre at Harwell
comprise an integrated campus for mouse genetics research with excellent
facilities for molecular genetics, genomics, mutagenesis, transgenesis
and informatics. The Unit uses a wide range of mouse genetic approaches
for both systematic and targeted approaches to the study of gene
function, with particular emphasis on mouse models of human genetic
disease. The ongoing research programmes take advantage of a combination
of facilities and expertise that is unique inside Europe. The Unit
is supported by a number of key Core facilities including Animal
and Transgenic facilities, the Embryo Bank, a Genotyping/Arraying/Sequencing
Core, Cytogenetics and the Informatics Group.
In addition to these facilities, the Unit undertakes two critical
programmes of benefit to the mammalina genetics community worldwide:
Induction and
Analysis of New Mouse Mutations
In order to close the phenotype gap in the mouse, a major programme
of ENU mutagenesis in collaboration with SmithKline Beecham, Queen
Mary and Westfield College and Imperial College, London has been
underway for the last year. We are undertaking a genome-wide screen
of up to 15,000 mice per year for dominant mutations. The focus
is on the implementation of efficient screens for the recovery
of wide range of novel phenotpyes including neurological, behavioural
and deafness mutations. However, it is also proposed to provide
"hotel" facilities to outside investigators who would
be able to apply screens either to all or a portion of the mutant
progeny. In tandem, part of the mutagenesis effort is devoted
to a targeted programme of mutagenesis to recover recessive mutations
within the a deletion region on mouse chromosome 13.
The Harwell
Embryo/Sperm Bank
The mouse embryo bank provides a collection and storage service
to the scientific community to safeguard unique genetic stocks.
The bank already contains a wide range of important mutant, transgenic
and inbred lines that are available for recovery and supply (as
frozen embryos or breeding nuclei). The MGU frozen embryo bank
is the largest in Europe and the second largest of its kind in
the world. At present, it contains approximately 800 different
stocks of mice and in excess of 230,000 embryos. The stocks consist
mainly of mouse mutations and chromosome anomalies, although there
are also several inbred strains and transgenic lines. Recent advances
in the techniques of mouse sperm freezing implemented at Harwell
have allowed us to extend our mutant archiving activities to the
implementation of a major mouse sperm bank for the storage of
many mutant lines from the Harwell mutagenesis programme.
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