Genetic Quality Controls for Genetically Altered Rodents

Genetic quality controls for genetically altered (GA) rodents are imperative in any laboratory or animal facility engaged in breeding or utilizing mutant models. Ensuring the validity of the animal model requires robust genetic quality control measures. For studies involving GA rodents, especially mice and rats, the use of genetically controlled and defined animals should be enforced. Rigorous quality controls ensure that the desired genetic alterations are successfully incorporated into the animals, validating the model’s relevance to the study, contributing to the reproducibility of experiments, allowing other researchers to validate and build upon the findings. These controls also play a crucial role in promoting the ethical use of animals in research. This chapter outlines current methods employed to accurately define the genetic composition of GA lines.