Charles River Japan Now Breeding JAX® Mice Strain C57BL/6J
JAX® NOTES Issue 490, Summer 2003
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Locally bred JAX® Mice strain C57BL/6J are available for sale in Japan through Charles River laboratories. |
Due to increasing sophistication of genetic analysis using new technology (SNPs) and information (sequencing of JAX® Mice strain C57BL/6J by the publicly funded Mouse Genome Sequence Consortium), there is a growing realization in the scientific community that there are significant differences between substrains1. It is critical to understand and communicate which substrain is being used. In order to more readily distribute what have become standard substrains in the research community, Charles River Laboratories has been authorized to breed select strains of JAX® Mice in Charles River's breeding facilities in Japan and Europe under the guidance of The Jackson Laboratory.
The JAX® Mice C57BL/6J colony in Japan originated from Gold Standard pedigreed pairs shipped from The Jackson Laboratory. In order to minimize genetic drift from the sequenced C57BL/6J colony, Charles River Japan will reinfuse with pedigreed stock from The Jackson Laboratory on a routine basis. The Jackson Laboratory will perform routine monitoring for genetic quality of JAX® Mice produced at Charles River as a safeguard to ensure both genetic identity and purity. JAX® Mice bred in Charles River facilities will be held to the same high health standards as JAX® Mice raised at The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine. Additionally, the sampling frequency and diagnostic test methods used for animal health monitoring of JAX® Mice at Charles River Japan are designed to meet both The Jackson Laboratory and local standards.
Reference:
1Wotjak CT. C57BLack/BOX? The importance of exact mouse strain nomenclature. Trends in Genetics 2003; 19:183-184.
