Summary of GEMM Services
“Sequence to Whiskers” Services: This is a comprehensive service. We provide all the services needed to accommodate the investigator’s transgenic or gene targeting needs from design consultation all the way to mouse production. This service is ideal for start-up labs or labs that do not have sufficient molecular biology expertise to prepare complex transgenic or gene targeting vectors; to do pronuclear microinjections; to electroporate ES cells with gene targeting vectors; to identify gene targeted ES cell clones; to do blastocyst injections with ES cells; to breed chimera mice; or to identify founders. For more information and pricing about having transgenic mice made click here. For more information and pricing about having gene targeted mice made click here.
Transgenic Vector Design and Construction: We design and build transgenic vectors for a variety of transgene uses including: over expression, inducible expression, tissue specific expression, and conditional expression, or reversible of a transgene. For more information and pricing, click here
Gene Targeting Vector Design and Construction: We design and build gene targeting vectors for a variety of gene modifications including: simple gene knockouts, conditional or inducible gene knockouts, and SNP or gene isoform knockins. For more information and pricing, click here
Gene Targeting or Electroporation into ES Cells: This is a process whereby gene targeting vectors are inserted into ES cells by electroporation. The surviving ES cells are selected for the stable acquisition of the targeting vector (positive selection) and against the random insertion of the vector DNA (negative selection). ES cell screening is the genetic screening of usually drug resistant ES cell clones produced during a gene targeting. This process may be PCR or Southern blot based. We offer both methods. This included with GEMM Core designed gene targeting vectors. Click Here
Outside ES Cell Clone Expansion: This is the expansion from one cryovial into multiple cryovials of an ES cell clone not produced in the GEMM Core. This is a no charge service if the clone(s) will be used for blastocyst injection or tetraploid aggregation in the GEMM Core.
Pronuclear Injection: This process introduces a transgene into fertilized mouse eggs (zygotes) via microinjection into zygotic pronuclei. We also provide founder screening at no extra charge provided that a fully functional PCR protocol is supplied. For more information and pricing, click here.
Blastocyst Injections: This is the method used to graft gene targeted ES cells into 3.5 day old mouse embryos resulting in the production of germ line chimera mice that can pass the gene targeted gene modification on to their offspring. Currently, chimera breeding is included in this service. Click Here
Tetraploid Aggregation: This is a method for directly producing ES cell derived mice without chimera intermediates. It has the advantage of saving time from targeted ES cell to the mouse. It has the disadvantage of strictly requiring that hybrid ES cells be used to make the gene targeted mice. We hope to offer this service the last quarter of 2008.
Embryo Rederivation or Embryo Transfer: This process is used to clean up a mouse line with unacceptable viral or bacterial infection(s). The procedure produces specific pathogen free (SPF) mice. It is also used as a method for reanimation of cryopreserved embryos. Click Here
Embryo Cryopreservation: This method is used to archive or cryogenically store unused mouse lines. It involves the collection and cryopreservation of approximately 400 eight cell embryos for reanimation at some later date such as when funding is restored. This can be done with heterozygous or homozygous embryos. Click Here
Sperm Cryopreservation: This service is available for all strains of mice in collaboration with the Jackson Labs. It uses their exclusive methodology and reagents. This service has the advantage of potentially producing a large number of mice when the time comes for restoring the line. The disadvantage is that it only produces heterozygous mice since wild type eggs are used for the in vitro fertilization that reestablishes the line. Click Here
