What is Genetic Quality?

Genetic Quality is a measure of the extent to which the genetic characteristics of the test animal corresponds to that of the standards established for animals of that strain. A Genetic Monitoring Program is therefore in place to sample and test the genetic quality of individual animals sampled from the pedigree and production colonies. This testing provides confirmation for faithful propagation of genetic characteristics established by the breeding protocol.

 Animal Genetic Standards

Genetic Quality is an integral factor in every scientific research program. InVivos shall follow the genetic monitoring standards and procedures established by Taconic as their International Genetic Monitoring System (IGMS)

Genetic Monitoring Program

Genetic monitoring is key to quality control of the breeding and production of inbred and transgenic lines of laboratory mice and rats. Taconic has established numerous production procedures that minimize the risk of genetic contamination. Our Genetic Monitoring Program follows that of Taconic’s and is grounded in the identification of points in the production program where there is a higher risk of an undetected accidental mating or strain mis-identification. By focusing genetic screening methods on these critical high-risk points, while scrutinizing quality control throughout, a genetic monitoring program can prevent a single mistake from becoming catastrophic.

Our Genetic Monitoring Program is based on a combination of three strategies: (1) visual characteristics of strains (most notably, coat color); (2) production procedures that minimize co-localization and/or movement of strains of similar colors and that promote careful record keeping and strain segregation; and (3) standard operating procedures outlining biochemical and DNA-based marker testing of animals at specific, defined, potentially risky points in the production process.