Riken has just released a new Web resource that provides detailed information on mutant mice generated by its Mouse Functional Genomics Research Group in a large-scale ENU-mutagenesis screen.
This new Web site — available in English and Japanese — is easily navigable and contains information on the screen along with search tools to identify mutants by their phenotype. Mice are classified according to their phenotypes and were tested in several phenotypic screens that range from the general - such as screens for gross dysmorphology or behavioural phenotypes - to the more specific - for example, for haematological, urinary or hearing defects.
Mice can be searched for, through a single query form, according to the phenotypic screen they scored positively in, and searches can be further refined with keywords. The search result provides a general description of a mutant's phenotype, including information on the founder and the mutation's mode of inheritance. Videos or photographs of each mutant are also provided, and more-detailed phenotypic information is available through links to a mouse's score for each screen it was tested in.
The phenotypic information available for each mouse is considerable and is presented in a clear way, such that the detail is there if you want it. There was, however, one page that was less informative, regarding the one piece of information that most site visitors will want. How do I get hold of these mice? It's not stated on the site but apparently the mice will be available through material transfer agreements with the Riken BioResource Centre. No doubt, the email addresses provided here for more information will be well used in the following months.
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Alfred, J. Riken mutants go online. Nat Rev Genet 2, 912 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35103533
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/35103533
