Furry little test tubes

[Guest guest]

Tailor-made mutant rodents play key roles in research into genetics and human

disease

 

propaganda coutesy of Lawrence Osborne

TheToronto Star

August 11, 2000

 

 

Inside a plastic laboratory container, two brown-coated mice are poring over a

new litter of grublike pups. A technician dips a pair of forceps into a tub of

disinfectant and then grabs one by the tail. It is Papa, and he begins squeaking

and wriggling as he is hoisted into the air.

 

" He's the normal one,'' says Muriel Davisson, a prominent mouse genetics

researcher. " It's the female who's the mutant. Now look at her. "

 

The mother indeed looks unusual. Perpetually off balance, she stumbles around

her tiny offspring. Her coat is tatty and her face distinctly lopsided. Her

mousy gaze looks cross-eyed; she is also noticeably puny. I scan the

identification tag on the container: TS65DN.

 

http://www.thestar.com/editorial/life/20000811LFE01_MICE.html