DartMouse: The Mouse Speed Congenic Shared Resource Facility

Leadership

Director: James D. Gorham, MD PhD, Professor, Departments of Pathology and of Microbiology and Immunology, DMS

Staff: Kristen-Ashley ("Sissy") Muirhead, Laboratory Manager
Matthew Ranson, Laboratory Technologist

Mission

DartMouse is a not-for-profit core facility funded by the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Research Resources. The mission of DartMouse is to facilitate the development of congenic mice in support of pre-clinical projects across the United States.

Overview of Services

Use of DartMouse allows the generation of congenic mice in 5 generations (~1.5 years), versus the 10 generations (~3 years) required by conventional back-crossing.

Investigators provide mouse tail clippings; DartMouse isolates genomic DNA and performs and analyzes complete genome-wide scans using single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We return data in graphical and spreadsheet formats, and make specific recommendations on breeder selection.

Chips use a 1449 SNP array covering the mouse genome with an average density of <2 cM.

Case Study

The research laboratory of Jose Conejo-Garcia, PhD (Assistant Professor of Microbiology/Immunology) studies the immune response to ovarian cancer. Dr. Conejo-Garcia's project was to study the immune response in mice in which the p53 tumor suppressor gene was deficient in specific cell types. Dr. Conejo-Garcia acquired the specific mouse line, but, unfortunately, the line was not on a genetic background appropriate for his studies. Dr. Conejo-Garcia used the DartMouse facility to rapidly back-cross the p53 modified mouse onto the C57Bl/6 mouse genetic background, which is appropriate for his studies. Dr. Conejo-Garcia's laboratory is now actively using this mouse to study the immune response to ovarian cancer.

List of Services

Speed congenic support:

  • Screen for best male carrier at each generation
  • Background checks
  • Detailed interval mapping
  • Genome-Wide Association Studies (aka QTL)

Contact

Phone: (603) 650-8686
E-Mail: DartMouse@dartmouth.edu
Web Site: www.dartmouse.org
CCOPs Shared Resource Service Requests: https://freedom7.dartmouth.edu/login