Genetic drift in an outbred stock of mice.

Survey in protein polymorphism in the nucleus colony of the Him: OF 1-mouse outbred stock showed that 8 of 53 loci were variable in the stock. Allele frequencies of these eight loci (Idh-1, Mup-1, Pgm-1; Ldr-1, Gpi-1s, Hbb, Mod-1, Ce-2) changed between generations investigated. The average percentage of heterozygote animals for these loci decreased with generation. These suggested that genetic drift occurred in the breeding stock. Examination in the breeding record sheets showed that genetic drift was caused by mistakes in mating probably due to repeated personnel changes and insufficient training of the animal technicians. Mice had not been paired according to the schemes prescribed, pairing among relatives and reduction of the number of litters used for mating occurred. The increase in homozygosity showed only little effect on breeding parameters: The interval between pairing and first and second litter increased significantly.