Transgenic Animal Model

About the Core

The University of Michigan Transgenic Animal Model Core was established in 1989 in response to the need for transgenic technology by University Investigators. The mission of the Transgenic Core is to provide access to transgenic animal technology in an efficient, effective manner. Researchers can use Transgenic Core laboratory space and resources side by side with staff members. Consultation in all phases of genome editing (CRISPR/Cas9), transgenic and gene targeting research from experimental design to mouse breeding is freely available. The Core’s mission is to provide access to a complex technology so that investigators can focus their resources on research instead of developing tools for research.

The Transgenic Core routinely uses CRISPR/Cas9 to produce gene edited mice and rats. The Transgenic Core guarantees that at least three transgenic founder mice or rats will be produced for each transgene DNA construct. Since 1989 the Core has produced more than 18,000 transgenic mouse founders from more than 1,800 transgenes and more than 800 transgenic rat founders from 63 transgenes. Over 200 mouse strains were produced by gene targeting in ES cells and another 60 strains from ES cells obtained from the International Knockout Mouse Consortium. The Core uses BAC recombineering to prepare genetically modified bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs). BACs are genetically modified by homologous recombination (BAC recombineering) to prepare DNA mutations, insertions, and deletions. BACs can be used as transgenes to express reporter molecules (GFP), Cre recombinase, and mutant alleles in cell culture and mice. The also prepares gene targeting vectors for the modification of chromosomes in ES cells. The efficiency of transgenic mouse and rat model production meets or exceeds standards in the published literature. Hundreds of research publications have been based on the use of these mouse and rat models.