Lecture 19 - Mouse Genetics And Transgenesis Flashcards
What is a forward genetic?
Is phenotype driven based on a random mutations which alters the phenotype you can then identify the gene and interpret the genes function
What is reverse genetics?
This is driven by genes and begins with a cloned gene of interest then you study the role of it by mutating it this is how you interpret gene function
What is gene trapping?
Where you randomly insert mutagens which introduce a tag do that the mutated gene can be identified before needing mice.
Is gene function conserved among species?
Yes
Pax6 causes what phenotype and is this conserved across species?
They create eyes and are conserved
You can use forward genetics to do what and reversal genetic to do what?
Find out what gene is causing a disease and reversal genetics confirms the role of the gene
How would you identify a mutated gene from a disease?
Forward genetics (predigree analysis and genetic linkage), reversal genetics (cytogenetic analysis) which would then give you a candidate genomic region. You would then select for specific genes and do a candidate gene mutation analysis in those affected before a gene mutation functional analysis (mutate the normal gene which is cell based before putting it into mice or fish)
Drosophila - how is forward genetics done?
X-rays, chemicals or transposing are used to make mutant red flies which is used to try and see what gene causes this
Drosophila - how is reversed genetics done?
Discover gen function through targeted disruption/ inhibition of the gene and then analyse the resulting phenotypes.
Why are reverse genetics and forward genetics used?
Creation of animal models of disease
Heidelberg screen - what did they do?
Engineered a fly with a balancer chromosome, this contained a marker gene and a lethal recessive allele.
They then put a mutagen (EMS) into wildtype fly to create mutations. They crossed the animals and got many phenotypes.
What is a balancer chromosomes?
Engineered through chromosomes inversions and cannot undergo crossing over, they contain lethal genes and markers
What gene did the heidelberg screen identify?
Hedgehog
In the mutated flies what did hedgehog signalling cause?
Failure in forebrain defects - separation of cerebral hemispheres
What happens in mice with loss of hedgehogs and humans with the disease HPE?
Failure of forebrain defect - the same as in flies
What is the mutagenic agent used in zebra fish screening?
ENU
Why would you use zebra fish in large scale genetic screens?
They have offspring quickly, they are also laid in eggs so easily accessible, there is many offspring and are cheap
What are some mutations identified through zebra fish screening?
- One eyes pinhead mutation leading to defects such as cyclopia
- Weissherbts mutations leading to hypochromic blood with decreasing blood cell counts.
- Hagoramo mutations leading to a disrupted stripe pattern of adult fish
Advantages of mouse model?
Mammal
Small
Standard diet and environment
Reproductive efficiency - rapid non seasonal breeding
History of careful breeding and record keeping
Tolerant to inbreeding
Large numbers of mutants - spontaneous and induced
Embryo and sperm cryopreservation
Clones DNA and cDNA resources
Sequence genome
Transgenesis
Embryonic stem cells - directed mutagenesis
Level of public acceptability
What are the key parameters of mouse reproduction?
Can be pregnant again immediately after parturition
Breed all year round
Embryos and sperm can be cryopreserved
Oestrus cycle - 4 days meaning they can be fertilised every 4 days
What are some similarities between humans and mice?
Genome size,
92% shared genes in the genome
2 sex chromosomes x and Y
They have similar ribosomal proteins
Differences between humans and mice?
Humans have more autosomes than mice
Humans have meta centric and sub meta centric chromosomes whilst mice only have telocentric
Humans have more CpG islands than mice