title: Perspective: new genetic tools for studying retinal development and disease.
abstract: The use of knock-out and transgenic mice has been instrumental for advancing our understanding of retinal development and disease. In this perspective, we review existing genetic approaches to studying retinal development and present a series of new genetic tools that complement the use of standard knock-out and transgenic mice. Particular emphasis is placed on elucidating cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous roles of genes important for retinal development and disease in vivo. In addition, a series of gene-swapping vectors can be used to elucidate the function of proteins that regulate key processes in retinal development and a wide variety of retinopathies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis.
authors.forename: Brett A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Schweers
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dyer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005823:Genetics; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008822:Mice, Transgenic / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012160:Retina / Q000254:growth & development*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology