Knockout mouse
Knockout Mouse
A Knockout mouse (pronunciation: /ˈnɒkaʊt maʊs/) is a laboratory mouse in which researchers have inactivated, or "knocked out," an existing gene by replacing it or disrupting it with an artificial piece of DNA. The loss of gene activity often causes changes in a mouse's phenotype, which includes appearance, behavior and other observable physical and biochemical characteristics.
Etymology
The term "knockout" refers to the act of knocking out or inactivating a gene. The term "mouse" is used because these experiments are typically performed using mice (Mus musculus) due to their genetic similarity to humans and their well-understood genetics.
Related Terms
- Gene: A unit of heredity that is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring.
- Phenotype: The set of observable characteristics of an individual resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment.
- Genotype: The genetic constitution of an individual organism.
- Mus musculus: The house mouse, a small mammal of the order Rodentia, characteristically having a pointed snout, small rounded ears, and a long naked or almost hairless tail. It is one of the most numerous species of the genus Mus.
- DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid, a self-replicating material present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Knockout mouse
- Wikipedia's article - Knockout mouse
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