Sharing and archiving of GA mice
Scientists are generating increasing numbers of genetically altered (GA) mice as part of their research. Initiatives aimed at reduction and refinement are therefore needed. Sharing and archiving of GA mice is an increasingly important way of doing this.
To increase the opportunities for applying reduction and refinement with respect to GA mice the RSPCA convened an expert working group whose members include the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Cancer Research-UK, the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs).
Archiving:
- enables reduction of animal use by minimising the number of GA animals maintained on the shelf
- facilitates the sharing of resources, which in itself provides more opportunity for reduction, and minimises the need of researchers to replicate research, or reproduce resources
- is a refinement, avoiding the need for the live transportation of animals
- provides some insurance against loss of valuable animals caused by adverse events such as environmental disasters, disease outbreaks, genetic drift and breeding failure.
To date the working group has:
Published recommendations on archiving and sharing in the form of a booklet:
Sharing and archiving of genetically altered mice (2009) (PDF 200KB)
More information
- Contact the working group, email: GA@rspca.org.uk
- For information on other RSPCA working groups relevant to GA animals see the GA Passport Working Group and Transgenic Training Working Group pages.
