Cytogenetic & Down Syndrome Models Resource

The Jackson Laboratory maintains and distributes chromosome aberration stocks that provide mouse models for Down syndrome, as well as the study of chromosomal aneuploidy.

Down syndrome models

Down syndrome (DS) is caused by trisomy (3 copies) of some or all of human Chromosome (Chr) 21. The majority of human Chr 21 genes are conserved in mouse Chr 16, with additional conserved regions on mouse Chrs 10 and 17. Our most widely used DS strains are the Ts65Dn models (symbolized as Ts(1716)65Dn). Ts65Dn mice are trisomic for about two thirds of the human Chr 21 genes conserved in mouse Chr 16. Mice survive to adulthood and have many, though not all, of the features of people with DS. The Ts(1716)65Dn trisomy is available in two different strains (Stock Numbers 001924 and 005252).

Other widely used strains

  1. A second Chr 16 segmental trisomy Ts(16C4-tel)1Cje (Stock No. 004861);
  2. Two homozygous Robertsonian chromosome stocks (Stock No. 000615, Stock No. 000885) that can be used to produce whole Chr 16 trisomy (Ts16) embryos, displaying some of the fetal developmental features of DS; and
  3. Stocks with reciprocal translocations involving Chr 16, such as B6.129S6-Dp(16Cbr1-ORF9)1Rhr/J (Stock No. 005383) and B6C3-Del(16Cbr1-ORF9)1Rhr/J (Stock No. 005654).

Each mouse autosome is present in at least two Robertsonian chromosomes in the JAX Repository, so that these stocks can be used to generate specific aneuploidies for each of the 19 mouse autosomes. This is the largest collection of Robertsonian chromosome mice in the United States.  

Obtaining mice

The Cytogenetic Resource is funded by an NICHD/NIH contract; first time users are required to fill out a request form for mice. Please complete and submit the request form to NIH.  Your order must be placed with our Customer Service Department at 1-800-422-MICE or 207-288-5845, or fax to 207-288-6150.

Citing the resource

This Resource is supported by NICHD contract #HHSN275201000006. Please reference this funding from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development/NIH in citations acknowledging use of the resource.

Resource Director: Cathleen Lutz, Ph.D.

NICHD logoSupported by the
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health.

First time users of the resource are asked to register their request for mice with NIH before ordering.

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News

Mouse model critical for testing Down syndrome drugs

JAX® Mice strain lists by chromosomal aberration: