Platform application "transgenic core facility"

Transgenic mice have become a central tool for understanding biological functions of genes and gene products. The use of transgenic mice - which share 97% of the genes of humans - can help elucidate the functions of cells, genes, proteins and other basic biological processes involved in normal function and in disease. Increasingly, the analysis of a transgenic mouse will be carried out in large scale by microarray and proteomics techniques and validated by advanced bioinformatic tools and bio-imaging. Wit h this background it is essential to establish a strong platform for the production of transgenic and gene-targeted mice to address major challenges of functional genomics research. Therefore, Norwegian groups that have documented experience in creating transgenic mice join in this “FUGE” platform proposal to create the financial backbone for a general transgenic core facility. It is, however, intended from the start that this should be a national facility. Any Norwegian researcher will be free to buy services from the Core facility at same conditions provided that that appropriate funding is provided in response to this applica tion.