Note in particular the dark blue staining of the retinal epithelia of the eye. The genetics and developmental biology of the mouse is surprisingly similar to human. We use this similarity to identify genes in humans that are candidates for disease genes or genes that affect human development in other ways. This approach, for example, has allowed identification of a human gene in which variants are associated with pale skin and red hair. . Melanocortin 1 receptor variation in the domestic dog.
Kit is required for the proliferation of melanoblasts in the mouse embryo.
Homologous pigmentation mutations in human, mouse and other model organisms. Variants of the MSH Receptor Gene Are Associated with Red Hair in Humans.