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Abstract

Many researchers use animal models in their research. Most commonly, it is the mouse. Similarly to humans, the mouse genome has been sequenced allowing specific genes to be removed, inserted or mutated in order to work out molecular and genetic pathways. Many commercially available gene-knockout or mutant mice are used as research models to better understand pathogenesis, molecular mechanisms and to help elucidate therapeutics. What is not as well publicized is how both background of the model and techniques used in mouse modeling can confound or obfuscate results. There are numerous examples in the literature of false reports of tumor genes because investigators did not know the normal anatomy of a mouse and how it differs from the human. Background lesions are also abundant since many of the mouse models are inbred allowing some disease susceptibilities and lesions to become fixed in their genome. Common background lesions and few anatomical differences will be covered along with common misconceptions regarding these lesions and their identification in mice. While there are numerous online resources available to help with studies, it is always best to have a mouse pathology expert or veterinary pathologist as a member of your research team.

Biography

Email: Helke@musc.edu