General Introduction to the ORNL Mutant Mouse Database

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has a collection of hundreds of mouse stocks, most of which propagate mutations induced (over a period of several decades) by radiations or chemicals in various stages of male or female gametogenesis. These mutations may range from single base-pair changes to rearrangements of various sizes, depending on mutagen and germ-cell stage.

Most of the mutagenesis studies from which mutations have been propagated utilized the specific-locus method, in which (101/Rl x C3H/Rl)F1 mice were treated and mated to a stock homozygous for mutations at seven specific markers, namely a, Tyrp^b (b), Tyr^c-ch (c^ch), p, Myo5a^d (d), Bmp^se (se), Ednrb^s (s). Mutations induced in either a 101 or C3H chromosome are detected if they are at, or encompass, one of these loci. Complementation and other genetic analyses have succeeded in characterizing large complexes of overlapping deletions, in uncovering and localizing numerous new functional units and genes within them, and in providing the genetic tools for studying the effects of totally ablating defined chromosomal segments. Using the genetic frameworks for the deletion complexes, subsequent molecular studies have built detailed functional/physical maps in the regions.

The mutagenesis studies have also yielded numerous gross chromosomal rearrangements as well as presumed single-locus mutations at various locations in the genome. In addition, the colony includes ORNL sublines of several standard inbred strains, and stocks that carry various combinations of mutant alleles that have originated at Oak Ridge or elsewhere. This database also provides the major vehicle for advertising what is currently being produced in large ENU mutagenesis programs in the Laboratory's Program for Mouse Genetics and Mutagenesis for Functional Genomics.

Stocks listed in this database exist as one or more of the following: (a) live mice; (b) frozen embryos or sperm; and (c) selected frozen tissues. These materials are available to outside investigators on special request. All transfers of mouse stocks for non-commercial or non-developmental research shall provide for cost reimbursement and shall be implemented using a Materials Transfer Agreement. (See Requesting Mice.) For commercial research additional rights may be negotiated.

It should be noted that most propagated stocks consist of only a small number of breeding cages. Except for special collaborative projects, only small numbers of mice -- of the genotypes existing in the breeding stock -- would thus be available for export at any given time.