Mouse models
Mouse models have become the central tool in the functional analysis of our genes. The mouse genome is fully sequenced. 99% of the coding genes present in man are also present in the mouse. In the last two decades researchers have developed an extensive toolbox to study the functional effects of genetic variation in the mouse. The technology to alter the mouse genome in a targeted way (knock-out mice) earned its originators the Nobel Prize in the year 2007.
Mouse models are also central in the study of human diseases. Mice and humans share the majority of disease-related genes. The susceptibility of mice to targeted genetic intervention make them the ideal model organism for the study of gene function in health and disease. As a result, mice are today the most widely used animal model in biomedical research
Currently, hundreds of new mouse lines are generated each year in biomedical research laboratories around the globe. This creates an enormous demand for:
- Systemic Phenotyping, a high-throughput approach to the comprehensive functional and molecular characterisation of the mouse mutants;
- Archiving and Distribution of scientifically valuable mouse models.
 |
Infrafrontier Project has been initiated to address this need and to establish a distributed infrastructure for the phenotyping, archiving and dissemination of mouse models on a well-concerted, large-scale and pan-European level. This will be a prerequisite for maintaining Europe's leading role in the functional annotation of the mouse genome. The Infrafrontier Research Infrastructure will guarantee the accessibility of mouse models and will be essential to facilitate their exploitation.
Last revision December 2010