page_title: Laboratory mouse
section_title: Mutant and transgenic strains
hierarchical_section_title: Laboratory mouse / Genetics and strains / Mutant and transgenic strains
caption_attribution_description: English: Two NOD/SCID mice expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) under UV-illumination flanking one plain NOD/SCID mouse from the non-transgenic parental line. Deutsch: Links und rechts eine grün fluoreszierende Maus unter UV-Licht. In der Mitte eine Maus ohne GFP.
context_page_description: The laboratory mouse or lab mouse is a small mammal of the order Rodentia which is bred and used for scientific research. Laboratory mice are usually of the species Mus musculus. They are the most commonly used mammalian research model and are used for research in genetics, psychology, medicine and other scientific disciplines. Mice belong to the Euarchontoglires clade, which includes humans. This close relationship, the associated high homology with humans, their ease of maintenance and handling, and their high reproduction rate, make mice particularly suitable models for human-oriented research. The laboratory mouse genome has been sequenced and many mouse genes have human homologues.
  Other mouse species sometimes used in laboratory research include the American white-footed mouse and the deer mouse.
context_section_description: Various mutant strains of mice have been created by a number of methods. A small selection from the many available strains includes -
  Mice resulting from ordinary breeding and inbreeding:
  Non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, which develop diabetes mellitus type 1.
  Murphy Roths large (MRL) mice, with unusual regenerative capacities
  Waltzing mice, which walk in a circular pattern due to a mutation adversely affecting their inner ears
  Immunodeficient nude mice, lacking hair and a thymus: these mice do not produce T lymphocytes; therefore, they do not mount cellular immune responses. They are used for research in immunology and transplantation.
  Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice, with an almost completely defective immune system
  FVB mice, whose large litter sizes and large oocyte pronuclei expedite use in genetic research
  Transgenic mice, with foreign genes inserted into their genome:
  Abnormally large mice, with an inserted rat growth hormone gene
  Oncomice, with an activated oncogene, so as to significantly increase the incidence of cancer
  Doogie mice, with enhanced NMDA receptor function, resulting in improved memory and learning
  Knockout mice, where a specific gene was made inoperable by a technique known as gene knockout: the purpose is to study the function of the gene's product or to simulate a human disease
  Fat mice, prone to obesity due to a carboxypeptidase E deficiency
  Strong muscular mice, with a disabled myostatin gene, nicknamed "mighty mice".
  Since 1998, it has been possible to clone mice from cells derived from adult animals.
caption: Two mice expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein under UV-illumination flanking one plain mouse from the non-transgenic parental line.
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