The Jackson Laboratory Mouse DNA Resource

JAX® NOTES Issue 499, Fall 2005

The Jackson Laboratory Mouse DNA Resource has been supplying high quality, high molecular weight genomic DNA to research laboratories all over the world since 1982. It was originally conceived and operated from the laboratory of former Jackson Laboratory scientist Dr. Ben Taylor. Dr. Taylor envisioned three missions of the Resource:

  • First, it would make high quality DNA from JAX® Mice available to biomedical researchers world-wide.
  • Second, it would archive DNA from specialized strains no longer maintained in live colonies. Although most JAX® Mice strains are cryopreserved as either embyos or sperm, and as DNA, some are not, making the Resource DNA the only remaining trace of those strains.
  • Third, it would allow scientists to compare old (e.g., 5, 10, 20 years) cryopreserved and current DNA and determine if and how much genetic drift was occurring in JAX® Mice strains, especially in those most commonly used by biomedical researchers. So far, no one has reported using the Resource for this purpose.

Although the Resource's missions have not changed since 1982, it's size has expanded considerably. It now occupies a separate lab, is operated by a full-time supervisor and several assistants, and archives cryopreserved DNA from over 2,500 JAX® Mice strains.

DNA Resource personnel use phenol to extract DNA from the cell nuclei of mouse tissues, a method developed by Jackson Laboratory staff. The extraction method is quick, effective, and adaptable to various mouse tissues. Although most of the DNA is extracted from spleens and brains of pedigreed male mice, it is occasionally extracted from other tissues, sometimes from females. The extracted DNA is pure, of high molecular weight (long strands of unbroken DNA), and is suitable for Southern blotting, PCR-amplification, and virtually all kinds of molecular genetic protocols. DNA concentration (ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 mg/ml; supplied with shipments) and purity are determined spectrophotometrically and confirmed by restriction enzyme digestion and electrophoresis. The DNAs are stored in TE buffer (10 mM TRIS pH 7.5, 1 mM EDTA) at -20oC.

You can order DNA from the Resource any time. Simply go to the Web site, www.jax.org/dnares, fill out the secure online order form, and either e-mail it or fax it (207.288.6075) to us. We do not accept phone orders. To make sure your order is processed without delay, please include all the following information on the order form:

  • Shipping address
  • Billing address
  • PO number or credit card information (card-holder name, card number, and expiration date)
  • The stock number or strain name of the DNA
  • Genotype (if ordering mutant DNA)
  • The amount of each DNA
  • Preferred shipping method - either FedEx two-day or FedEx Priority (FedEx shipments can be tracked and arrive in one to two days)

DNA is available both from homozygous and heterozygous mice of most mutant strains. Although quantities for some strains are limited, all requests are given due consideration. You can determine if DNA from a particular strain is available in two ways. If you know the strain name or stock number, search our DNA Database (www.jax.org/dnares). Otherwise, contact us (see contact information below). Make sure you provide as much information about the strain as possible. For detailed information about all but the extinct mouse strains in the DNA Database, consult the JAX® Mice Database (www.jax.org/jaxmice).

You can contact the Mouse DNA Resource at:

Mouse DNA Resource
The Jackson Laboratory
600 Main St.
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: 207.288.6414
Fax: 207.288.6075
e-mail: dnares@jax.org