Inbreeding articles from across Nature Portfolio

Many commonly used inbred mouse strains carry random mutations that can affect the results of metabolic studies. Yet, awareness of such mutations as a source for experimental variation and seemingly contradictory results is lacking. It is time that scientists pay more attention to the identification, tracking and accurate reporting of mouse strains used in experiments.

By balancing self-fertilization with occasional sex, a small marine fish maintains a robust immune system.