All three projects in the Center require mutant mice derived at UCLA. The Mouse Genetics Core will reside ina SPF facility at UCLA and will facilitate the back-cross, mating and dissemination of the mutant micerequired by all three Projects in the center. The facility will maintain the lines, genotype them and send themwhen needed to the participating laboratories. An important role for the facility will be to transfer mutationsinto stable genetic backgrounds that could then be retested and sent to the laboratories in the Center. Someof the mice that will be tested in the genetic screen proposed in Project 1 are not in stable, balanced geneticbackgrounds. The Mouse Genetics Core will use speed congenics and other techniques to transfer selectedmutations into stable and defined genetic backgrounds. The facility will also be responsible for thedistribution of mice with conditional mutations of genes identified in the plasticity screens proposed. Theintegration of studies in the Center is completely dependent on the uniformity of the genetic background ofthe mice tested. Since phenotypes, including brain phenotypes, are sensitive to genetic background, it wouldbe impossible to integrate findings from different laboratories in the Center, if each laboratory used mice withvarying genetic background. Thus, providing mice of uniform genetic background is a crucial and keyfunction of the Mouse Genetics Core.
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