Transgenic Mouse Study

Introduction

The Allen Transgenic Mouse Study provides comprehensive characterization of the expression patterns of genetically controlled marker and tool genes in the brains of transgenic mice. This data is intended to reveal the potential of each transgenic mouse line for manipulating gene function to help researchers choose the appropriate tools for their studies.

About the Resource

Transgenic mice offer unique opportunities to investigate specific types of brain cells and advance understanding of neural circuitry and brain function.  To this end, the Allen Institute is undertaking a two-part transgenic program.

First, based on insights into the cellular and molecular organization of the brain derived from the Allen Mouse Brain Atlas and other scientific resources, we are generating a variety of high-value transgenic mouse lines—mainly using the well-known Cre/lox system—that include genetically controlled markers or tool genes in specific cell types in the brain.  The Allen Institute is making these lines available to researchers through The Jackson Laboratory (http://www.jax.org)

Second, we are extensively characterizing the Allen Institute lines as well as those generated by the broad scientific community using our systematic, high-throughput technologies.  Providing standardized and detailed anatomic profiling of transgene expression throughout the entire mouse brain, this dataset offers a comprehensive evaluation of the potential of each transgenic mouse line.  These data, constituting the Allen Transgenic Mouse Study, are available to the public online and are intended to help researchers choose the appropriate tools for studying the function of different regions and/or cells in the brain.