Abstract
Mice carrying engineered genetic modifications have become an indispensable tool in
the study of gene functioning. The interpretation of results obtained with targeted
mutants is not completely straightforward, however, because of genetic complications
due to linkage and epistasis. Effects of closely linked genes flanking the targeted
locus might sometimes be responsible for phenotypic changes ascribed to the null mutation.
The effects of the latter might also be modified by the general genetic background.
This review presents some examples and discusses some simple strategies to deal with
these complications.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 19, 2004
Accepted:
December 30,
2003
Received in revised form:
December 19,
2003
Received:
October 17,
2003
Identification
Copyright
© 2004 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
