CONGENIC MICE Meaning and
Definition
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Congenic mice refer to a specific type of genetically engineered laboratory mice that are bred to have almost identical genomes, except for a specific segment of DNA known as the congenic interval. The congenic interval is the region of the genome that differs between the congenic mice and the parental strain they are derived from.
Congenic mice are usually created by repeatedly backcrossing the original mutant mouse with a parental strain that is phenotypically normal but has a different genotype. This process involves selecting offspring that carry the desired mutation while eliminating unwanted genetic variations from the parental strain. Through this selective breeding method, researchers aim to establish a mouse strain that primarily possesses the genome of the parental strain but with a specific segment or gene from the mutant strain.
The primary advantage of using congenic mice is to study the function and effects of a specific gene or DNA segment in isolation from the rest of the genome. By maintaining a nearly identical background genome, researchers can attribute observed phenotypic differences solely to the modified segment or gene in question. This approach enables scientists to elucidate the direct effects of specific genetic alterations on various biological processes, furthering our understanding of gene function, disease mechanisms, and potential therapeutic targets.
Congenic mice are extensively utilized in genetics, genomics, and medical research to investigate the relationship between genotype and phenotype, as well as to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms driving various genetic traits and diseases.
Common Misspellings for CONGENIC MICE
- xongenic mice
- vongenic mice
- fongenic mice
- dongenic mice
- cingenic mice
- ckngenic mice
- clngenic mice
- cpngenic mice
- c0ngenic mice
- c9ngenic mice
- cobgenic mice
- comgenic mice
- cojgenic mice
- cohgenic mice
- confenic mice
- convenic mice
- conbenic mice
- conhenic mice
- conyenic mice
- contenic mice
Etymology of CONGENIC MICE
The word "congenic" is derived from the combination of the Latin word "con-" meaning "together" or "with", and the Greek word "genic" which means "producing" or "giving rise to".
In the context of mice, "congenic" refers to a specific breeding strategy in which two mice strains are bred together repeatedly for multiple generations to create a new strain that is genetically identical, except for a particular gene or set of genes that differ between the two original strains. This is achieved through a process called backcrossing, where the offspring of the two strains are repeatedly bred with one of the original strains to select and preserve the desired genetic trait of interest.
So, "congenic mice" can be understood as mice with similar genetic backgrounds, with the exception of a specific genetic alteration or difference that has been introduced through selective breeding.
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