GMS 6011: Mouse Genetics

Catalog description: This course will provide a theoretical frame work for understanding the fundamental concepts of mouse genetics and the use of the mouse model for the study of human disease. Students will gain familiarity with advanced technical tools used in mouse genetics research and their application to novel problems.

Prerequisites/corequisites: GMS 6001 or consent of instructor.

Expanded description and explanation: This course will provide a theoretical framework for understanding the fundamental concepts of mouse genetics. The focus of the course will be to obtain a working knowledge of mouse genetics including the use of inbred, recombinant inbred, congenic, and coisogenic strains of mice. Followed by an in depth discussion of various means of mapping genes as well as both simple and complex traits. Strategies for positional cloning pre-existing mouse mutations and creating novel mutations will be explored.

Evaluation of student performance: By examination and by oral and written reports.

Faculty: Dr. Laurence Morel will be the course director. She will be assisted by staff from the College of Medicine who are expert in mouse genetics.

Summary of Topics: (15 meetings)

  1. Introduction to mouse genetics I: strain construction - inbred, coisogenic, congenic, and recombinant inbred strains
  2. Introduction to mouse genetics II: types and applications of genetic crosses
  3. Introduction to mouse genetics III: mutagenesis and screening
  4. Phenotypic mapping
  5. Physical mapping
  6. Positional cloning
  7. Mapping complex traits I
  8. Mapping complex traits II
  9. Molecular cloning of complex traits
  10. In vivo mutagenesis: genetic knock-outs
  11. Isolation and characterization of transgenic animals
  12. Use of transgenic animals in the study of function
  13. Current topics from the literature - student presentations
  14. Current topics from the literature - student presentations
  15. Current topics from the literature - student presentations

Assigned readings: Silver, L.M. (1995) Mouse genetics: concepts and applications. Oxford University Press. New York, NY. This is a major reference book in the field and will be used as a point of departure for the study of the current primary literature. Additional reading assignments will be based on review articles and original research papers from the biomedical literature.

Subsequent semesters: The goal of the mouse genetics module is not only to provide the conceptual underpinnings of the genetic approach as it is used to elucidate fundamental concepts in biology and medicine, but also to explore the biological mechanisms that cells and organisms employ in the life process. In subsequent semesters different problems will become the subject of the genetic analysis discussed in the module as well as the introduction of new genetic concepts which will emerge from genomic and other areas of research. Thus, similar and new genetic approaches will be used to elucidate a different set of biologically relevant problems. As the modules mature and evolve they will be suitable for repeat credit. Repeat of a module will only be allowed by consent of instructor.