Genetic dissection of complex traits with chromosome substitution strains of mice

Science. 2004 Apr 16;304(5669):445-8. doi: 10.1126/science.1093139. Epub 2004 Mar 18.

Abstract

Chromosome substitution strains (CSSs) have been proposed as a simple and powerful way to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) affecting developmental, physiological, and behavioral processes. Here, we report the construction of a complete CSS panel for a vertebrate species. The CSS panel consists of 22 mouse strains, each of which carries a single chromosome substituted from a donor strain (A/J) onto a common host background (C57BL/6J). A survey of 53 traits revealed evidence for 150 QTLs affecting serum levels of sterols and amino acids, diet-induced obesity, and anxiety. These results demonstrate that CSSs greatly facilitate the detection and identification of genes that control the wide diversity of naturally occurring phenotypic variation in the A/J and C57BL/6J inbred strains.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids / blood
  • Animals
  • Anxiety / genetics
  • Chromosome Mapping*
  • Chromosomes, Mammalian / genetics*
  • Crosses, Genetic
  • Diet
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Genetic Variation
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred A
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Microsatellite Repeats
  • Obesity / genetics
  • Obesity / physiopathology
  • Phenotype
  • Quantitative Trait Loci*
  • Quantitative Trait, Heritable*
  • Sterols / blood
  • Weight Gain

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Sterols