Question 1

Refining Research to Improve the Lives of Laboratory Mice

Accepted Answer

As part of a series called Frontiers for Young Minds, Paulin Jirkof has written an educational resource for kids about refined mouse handling called Refining Research to Improve the Lives of Laboratory Mice

Question 2

JAX Online MicroLessons and MiniCourses

Accepted Answer

Self-paced online learning from the genetics and genomics experts at The Jackson Laboratory, designed for graduate students, postdocs, research assistants, early career scientists, lab technicians and more.

JAX Online MicroLessons and MiniCourses

Self-paced online learning from the genetics and genomics experts at The Jackson Laboratory, designed for graduate students, postdocs, research assistants, early career scientists, lab technicians and more.

JAX ONLINE MICROLESSONS

Have 15 minutes or less? Engage with introductory genetics and genomics topics by enrolling in a free Online MicroLesson.

JAX ONLINE MINICOURSES

Have a couple hours? Expand your knowledge by enrolling in a free Online MiniCourse, designed for in-depth learning about foundational genetics and genomics topics.

Select MiniCourses are available in Spanish and Mandarin.

Question 3

Identifying obstacles preventing the uptake of tunnel handling methods for laboratory mice: An international thematic survey

Accepted Answer

Identifying obstacles preventing the uptake of tunnel handling methods for laboratory mice: An international thematic survey

Abstract

Handling of laboratory mice is essential for experiments and husbandry, but handling can increase anxiety in mice, compromising their welfare and potentially reducing replicability between studies. The use of non-aversive handling (e.g., tunnel handling or cupping), rather than the standard method of picking mice up by the tail, has been shown to enhance interaction with a handler, reduce anxiety-like behaviours, and increase exploration and performance in standard behavioural tests. Despite this, some labs continue to use tail handling for routine husbandry, and the extent to which non-aversive methods are being used is currently unknown. Here we conducted an international online survey targeting individuals that work with and/or conduct research using laboratory mice. The survey aimed to identify the handling methods currently being used, and to determine common obstacles that may be preventing the wider uptake of non-aversive handling. We also surveyed opinions concerning the current data in support of non-aversive handling for mouse welfare and scientific outcomes. 390 complete responses were received and analysed quantitatively and thematically. We found that 35% report using tail handling only, and 43% use a combination of tail and non-aversive methods. 18% of respondents reported exclusively using non-aversive methods. The vast majority of participants were convinced that non-aversive handling improves animal welfare and scientific outcomes. However, the survey indicated that researchers were significantly less likely to have heard of non-aversive handling and more likely to use tail handling compared with animal care staff. Thematic analysis revealed there were concerns regarding the time required for non-aversive methods compared with tail handling, and that there was a perceived incompatibility of tunnel handling with restraint, health checks and other routine procedures. Respondents also highlighted a need for additional research into the impact of handling method that is representative of experimental protocols and physiological indicators used in the biomedical fields. This survey highlights where targeted research, outreach, training and funding may have the greatest impact on increasing uptake of non-aversive handling methods for laboratory mice.

Question 4

International Mouse Strain Resource (IMSR)

Accepted Answer

http://www.findmice.org/

The IMSR is a searchable online database of mouse strains, stocks, and mutant ES cell lines available worldwide, including inbred, mutant, and genetically engineered strains. The goal of the IMSR is to assist the international scientific community in locating and obtaining mouse resources for research. Note that the data content found in the IMSR is as supplied by strain repository holders.

For each strain or cell line listed in the IMSR, users can obtain information about:

Where that resource is available (Repository Site)
What state(s) the resource is available as (e.g. live, cryopreserved embryo or germplasm, ES cells)
Links to descriptive information about a strain or ES cell line
Links to mutant alleles carried by a strain or ES cell line
Links for ordering a strain or ES cell line from a Repository
Links for contacting the Repository to send a query

Question 5

INFRAFRONTIER - Mouse Disease Models

Accepted Answer

https://infrafrontier.eu/

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/hwAzJt6PVl/resources/IsJdITK5LU/logo-infrafrontier.png (logo-infrafrontier (1).png)

INFRAFRONTIER is the European Research Infrastructure for the generation, phenotyping, archiving and distribution of model mammalian genomes. The INFRAFRONTIER Research Infrastructure provides access to first-class tools and data for biomedical research, and thereby contributes to improving the understanding of gene function in human health and disease using the mouse model.

The core services of INFRAFRONTIER comprise the systemic phenotyping of mouse mutants in the participating mouse clinics, and the archiving and distribution of mouse mutant lines by the European Mouse Mutant Archive (EMMA). In addition, INFRAFRONTIER provides specialised services such as the generation of germ-free mice (axenic service) and training in state of the art cryopreservation and phenotyping technologies.

Question 6

Mouse Genome Informatics

Accepted Answer

MGI is the international database resource for the laboratory mouse, providing integrated genetic, genomic, and biological data to facilitate the study of human health and disease. The projects contributing to this resource are:

Mouse Genome Database (MGD) Project - MGD includes data on gene characterization, nomenclature, mapping, gene homologies among vertebrates, sequence links, phenotypes, allelic variants and mutants, and strain data. See About MGD.
Gene Expression Database (GXD) Project - GXD integrates different types of gene expression information from the mouse and provides a searchable index of published experiments on endogenous gene expression during development. See Gene Expression Database (GXD) and About the Gene Expression Database (GXD).
Mouse Models of Human Cancer database (MMHCdb) Project - MMHCdb integrates data on the frequency, incidence, genetics, and pathology of neoplastic disorders, emphasizing data on tumors that develop characteristically in different genetically defined strains of mice. See Mouse Models of Human Cancer database and Mouse Models of Human Cancer database User Help Reference.
Gene Ontology (GO) Project at MGI - The Mouse Genome Informatics group is a founding member of the Gene Ontology Consortium (www.geneontology.org). MGI fully incorporates the GO in the database and provides a GO browser. See Functional Annotation using the Gene Ontology (GO) and The Gene Ontology (GO) Project.
Cre Resources (CrePortal) Project - The CrePortal Project collects and annotates and integrates expression and activity data for recombinase-containing transgenes and knock-in alleles. See the Recombinase Portal.
MouseMine Project - MouseMine is a powerful new system for accessing MGI data, using the InterMine framework. As a member of the InterMOD consortium, the MouseMine project also represents a new mechanism for cooperation between MGI and other MODs. See MouseMine, About the MouseMine data warehouse resource, and InterMine.
Alliance of Genome Resources - The Alliance's goal is to provide a consistent user interface with an integrated view of data from 6 Model Organism Databases and the GO Consortium. See Alliance of Genome Resources and About The Alliance.

Credit: informatics.jax.org

Question 7

Genetic quality assurance and genetic monitoring of laboratory mice and rats: FELASA Working Group Report

Accepted Answer

Genetic quality assurance (QA), including genetic monitoring (GeMo) of inbred strains and background characterization (BC) of genetically altered (GA) animal models, should be an essential component of any QA programme in laboratory animal facilities. Genetic quality control is as important for ensuring the validity of the animal model as health and microbiology monitoring are. It should be required that studies using laboratory rodents, mainly mice and rats, utilize genetically defined animals. This paper, presented by the FELASA Working Group on Genetic Quality Assurance and Genetic Monitoring of Laboratory Murines, describes the objectives of and available methods for genetic QA programmes in rodent facilities. The main goals of any genetic QA programme are: (a) to verify the authenticity and uniformity of inbred stains and substrains, thus ensuring a genetically reliable colony maintenance; (b) to detect possible genetic contamination; and (c) to precisely describe the genetic composition of GA lines. While this publication focuses mainly on mouse and rat genetic QA, the principles will apply to other rodent species some of which are briefly mentioned within the context of inbred and outbred stocks.

DOI: 10.1177/0023677219867719