New Lab Mice Cut Search for Genetic Links to Disease by More
Than a Decade Thursday, April 5, 2012 TAU breeds population of
lab mice with genetic diversity closer to humans With a 95
percent genomic similarity to humans, mice have long been used
to learn about the genetic causes of human disease. Once
researchers can shine a light on the genetic factors that cause
disease in mice, they can start to develop prevention and
treatment options to protect the human population. But this
process, called genetic mapping, is a long and difficult road,
made more challenging by the 5% difference between the humans
and lab mice. Now Prof. Fuad Iraqi of Tel Aviv University's
Sackler Faculty of Medicine is closing the gap with an
international project called Collaborative Cross. The project is
developing lab mice with increased genetic diversity, making
them more advantageous for genetic research related to human
health. The new population will offer 1,000 genetic strains
within a fixed genotype — the composite of the entir