Mapping behavioral traits by use of genome-tagged mice.
OBJECTIVE
Complex trait mapping has been widely used to analyze the genetics of behavior. However, the approach has some disadvantages, including poor gene localization and low replicability. Genome-tagged mice (GTMs) are sets of congenic mouse strains that span the entire mouse genome and are a promising reagent for localization of genes contributing to behavior.


METHODS
In order to map behavioral loci of interest, a GTM was investigated in which the middle region of Chromosome 1 from DBA/2J was introgressed onto a C57BL/6J background. The GTM was analyzed for behaviors related to sensorimotor gating, anxiety, depression, pain sensitivity, and learning and memory.


RESULTS
The GTM was found to harbor a locus contributing to learning and memory, replicating results from complex trait analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
The GTMs should be a valuable resource for mapping and confirmation of loci contributing to complex behavioral traits in the mouse, with ultimate implications for human genomic-based research, as well.
Liu
Dahai
D
Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology and Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1735, USA.
Singh
Ram Pyare
RP
Khan
Arshad H
AH
Lusis
Aldons J
AJ
Davis
Richard C
RC
Smith
Desmond J
DJ
D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000235:genetics; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D002874:Chromosome Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D002878:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 / Q000235:genetics; D003863:Depression / Q000235:genetics; D005239:Fear; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D020297:Mice, Congenic; D010146:Pain / Q000235:genetics