To knockout in 129 or in C57BL/6: that is the question.
Traditionally, knockout experiments are performed in ES cells derived from the 129 mouse strain, followed by backcrossing with the more robust C57BL/6 strain. C57BL/6-derived ES cells have only occasionally been used in this process. We compared C57BL/6- with 129-derived ES cells directly and reviewed the literature. We found that, although some steps are less efficient, the advantages of C57BL/6 mice more than compensate for these drawbacks.
Seong
Eunju
E
Mental Health Research Institute and Neuroscience Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
Saunders
Thomas L
TL
Stewart
Colin L
CL
Burmeister
Margit
M
D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008845:Microinjections; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*