Molecular analysis of mutations in mice

Understanding the molecular nature of mutations and the mechanisms by which mutations are translated into specific (and often complex) phenotypes is a major goal of mammalian biology. Molecular genetic analysis of heritable mouse mutations constitutes a significant, experimentally malleable strategy for relating genomic DNA structure to genic expression and function in mammals. Radiation-induced germ-line mutations, many of which are deletions or chromosomal rearrangements, have assumed important roles in strategies for (1) identifying new genetic loci in specific regions of the genome, (2) obtaining molecular access to these regions, (3) developing detailed molecular maps within regions, and (4) analyzing, at a functional level, the role(s) played by specific segments of genomic DNA in normal development as well as the effect(s) of mutation on biologically significant processes and phenotypes