FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Compared to a reverse genetic approach, in which mutations are produced by replacement of a gene, the forward genetic approach uses mutagenesis to produce a gene mutation. We then perform screening procedures to study gene function.

Please also check out our SFN 2004 functional genomics poster.

The chemical supermutagen N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) is an ethylating agent that is both mutagenic and cytotoxic in mouse spermatagonia stem cells (Russell, 1979). This effect is genome-wide and non-specific; thus, all genes are susceptible to mutation.

Please also check out our SFN 2004 functional genomics poster.

• Multiple types of mutations (hypermorph, hypomorph, neomorph)
• Induce allelic series
• Potential to avoid null (knock-out) lethality
• Induces single base-pair substitutions, i.e. "point mutations"
• Create novel phenotypes
• Identify previously unknown gene functions

Please also check out our SFN 2004 functional genomics poster.

We have developed extensive, robust, and reliable high through-put phenotyping capabilities. Please click here to view our assays used to screen mice for abnormal phenotypes, sorted by broad phenotypic categories (domains). The same assay may be listed under multiple domains.

Please also check out our SFN 2004 phenotypes poster.

The mutant mouse lines are organized by phenotypic domains which are listed on the left of the "MOUSE LINES" page. A checkbox is provided for each phenotypic domain. Check the domains of interest and click the "search" button, the mutant mouse lines will be shown. This can be combined with keyword searching.

A keyword search textbox is located at the top of every page. Enter any list of words, separated by spaces, and our search engine will retrieve all mutant lines containing ALL of your search words. If you wish to search by a multi-word term, such as "embryonic lethality", just surround the words in double quotes.

The mouse lines are sortable by clicking the table header MUTANT LINE NAME, GENE OR LOCUS, CHROMOSOME, DATA AVAILABLE and STATUS.

Advanced Search enables you to perform complex searches such as category searches and combined searches. To choose a category, click the dropdown list in the search builder and select a field. Either clicking a term from the Category Reference or typing a term of interest will start building the search string, and then you can choose the relationship (And/Or) between the terms in your search.

SYNTAX

• Search terms are not case-sensitive
  • eye, Eye, and EYE will all match the same lines
• You can use the boolean operators AND, OR, and NOT
  • Example: 7 AND NOT Eye
• You can group search terms with parentheses
  • Example: (NMF OR TMGC) AND NOT (7 AND Eye)
• You can search for a whole phrase by surrounding it with quotes
  • Example: "curly tail"
• You can restrict the scope of a particular term by appending a search area in brackets
  • Example: "Available Live"[Status] AND NMF[Name]

You may use this syntax in any of the search fields on this site.

The "MOUSE LINES" page shows the search result of the mutant lines. Click any link in a mutant line, and you will see the detailed information on that mutant.

There are a few sections of information in the "detail" page.

• Phenotypic synopsis and description including abnormal assay results.
• Mutant line information including the gene and allele identifiers using the consistent naming convention with MGI at The Jackson Laboratory. All of Neuromice mutants are also listed in MGI, as you will find MGI ID and the links to view MGI records.
• Heritability and mapping information of that mutant.
• Status information on the availability status and date.

Mutant mouse lines are kept in different states.

• Available Live - Mutant breeder pairs are available for distribution.
• Available Frozen - Live breeder pairs are not available. However, cryopreserved sperm or embryos are.
• Pending - Mice are confirmed heritable, but not ready to be distributed yet.

Different breeding schemes are used in the three mutagenesis facilities. Please visit the following websites at each mutagenesis facility for their breeding schemes.

• Northwestern University: http://genome.northwestern.edu/neuro/breeding_protocol.cfm
• The Jackson Laboratory: http://nmf.jax.org/protocols/genetics_scheme.html
• The Tennessee Mouse Genome Consortium: http://www.tnmouse.org/neuromutagenesis/mutagenesis.html

You can begin an order by clicking one of the "ORDER" buttons on the "MOUSE LINES" page or the "INITIATE PURCHASE" button in a mutant detail page. You will find clear step-by-step online instructions in the process of ordering.

Before you place your order, you will need to login or register with Neuromice.org. Your shopping cart contents will be saved after you register, and you will be able to complete the ordering process once Neuromice.org staff verifies your registration information.

With each order from Neuromice.org, we will ask you to provide contact information for

• Primary laboratory contact
• Primary investigator (PI)
• Billing contact
• Shipping contact
• Comparative medicine/veterinarian contact
• Import/export coordinator (optional)

(These contacts will be retained to simplify placing future orders.)

Ordering Neuromice.org mice requires execution of the Neuromice.org Material Transfer Agreement (MTA). If you have never sent us a MTA, we will ask you to download one, fill it out and send it us. You will only need to fill out the full MTA form for your first order. For subsequent orders, you will have to fill out a shorter attachment form.

A confirmation email will be sent to you after you successfully submit your order. Additional messages will be sent as your order proceeds through the system. You may view your ordering history and check the order status at any time by visiting "MY ACCOUNT" (which appears on the top part of every page after you login) and navigate to "MY ORDERS".

• First and foremost, verified Neuromice.org members may order mice online from Neuromice.org.

• You may save searches to quickly access frequently-typed search parameters and your search history. You can save a search by following either the "ADD NEW SEARCH" or the "SAVE RECENT SEARCH" link in the left navigation bar. You can run, edit or delete the saved searches any time after you log in.

  In addition, Autosearch can do the search for you periodically. Automatic email notifications containing the search results will be sent to you according to the time interval you set in "Autosearch Frequency" (If "Never" is selected, no email notification will be sent).

If you would like to register now, click here.

Neuromice charges $20 per mouse if it is available live. The cost to produce and maintain them is much higher. However, this is offset by our support from NIH. Shipping charges will be additional. More information is available here.

The source code for this site is available under the GNU GPL. More information about the open source and other technologies used to build and run Neuromice.org is available here.