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The origins and uses of mouse outbred stocks

Nature Genetics volume 37, pages 1181–1186 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Outbred mouse stocks, often used in genetics, toxicology and pharmacology research, have been generated in rather haphazard ways. Understanding the characteristics of these stocks and their advantages and disadvantages is important for experimental design. In many studies these mice are used inappropriately, wasting animals' lives and resources on suboptimal experiments. Recently, however, researchers from the field of complex trait analysis have capitalized on the genetics of outbred stocks to refine the identification of quantitative trait loci. Here we assess the most widely used outbred stocks of mice and present guidelines for their use.

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Figure 1: Comparison of the response to chloramphenicol in outbred and inbred mice.

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Acknowledgements

We thank R.D. Mastrocco for information about Clara Lynch; J. Eppig, R. Hitzemann, H. Jacob, M. Josten, R. Kalman, I. Martin, G. McClearn, R. Mott, J. Stitzel and R. Williams for personal communications; R. Young for graphics; and the Brain Research Trust and the Motor Neuron Disease Association for funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK

    Ruth Chia, Francesca Achilli & Elizabeth M C Fisher

  2. c/o MRC Toxicology Unit, Hodgkin Building, University of Leicester, PO Box 138, Lancaster Road, Leicester, LE1 9HN, UK

    Michael F W Festing

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Correspondence to Elizabeth M C Fisher.

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M.F.W.F. has a consultancy with Harlan Limited.

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Supplementary Fig. 1

Genealogy of major Swiss mice outbred stocks. (PDF 181 kb)

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Chia, R., Achilli, F., Festing, M. et al. The origins and uses of mouse outbred stocks. Nat Genet 37, 1181–1186 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/ng1665

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