Strains
Inbred strains of mice represent unique fixed genotypes that can be repeatedly accessed as homogeneous
experimental individuals, with predictable phenotypes and defined allelic composition. Hundreds of inbred
strains of mice have been described and new strains continue to be developed, taking advantage of the rich
genetic diversity among the existing strains and the ease with which the mouse genome can be manipulated.
MGI serves as a registry for mouse strains worldwide, maintaining the authoritative nomenclature for
existing strains. Comparative data on inbred strain characteristics, SNPs, polymorphisms, and quantitative
phenotypes are integrated with other genetic, genomic, and biological data in MGI.
SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms)
MGI provides comprehensive information about reference SNPs including the reference flanking sequence,
assays that define the SNP, and gene/marker associations with their corresponding function class annotations.
Each SNP detail page includes links to popular gene browsers including the MGI
Mouse Genome Browser.
Other molecular polymorphisms
MGI includes data on RFLP and PCR based polymorphisms and permits searching by gene, chromosomal region,
or by polymorphic differences between strains. Probes and restriction enzymes used for RFLP analysis and primer
sequences used for PCR are provided, with fragment sizes and variants for each strain tested. Links to
genes, probe details, and data source are included.
Strain characteristics and historical origins
MGI holds information on comparative strain characteristics as originally curated by Dr. Michael Festing.
These narratives provide key phenotypic traits of major inbred strains, such as behavior, physiology, anatomy,
drug responses, immunology, infection, and reproduction. Data are fully referenced and are full-text searchable.
The Genealogy of Inbred Strains provides a 'pedigree' of relationships of strains since their origin. The Genealogy
Chart graphically displays the movement and development of inbred strains and is particularly useful in looking at
dispersion of strains and how inbreeding (and allele fixation) occurred in relation to conserved sequence blocks
observed in SNP analysis.
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