Eisener-Dorman Amy F, Lawrence David A, Bolivar Valerie J
Wadsworth Center, 120 New Scotland Avenue, David Axelrod Institute, Albany, NY 12208, USA.
Brain Behav Immun. 2009 Mar;23(3):318-24. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2008.09.001. Epub 2008 Sep 12.
Gene modification technologies play a vital role in the study of biological systems and pathways. Although there is widespread and beneficial use of genetic mouse models, potential shortcomings of gene targeting technology exist, and are not always taken into consideration. Oversights associated with the technology can lead to misinterpretation of results; for example, ablation of a gene of interest can appear to cause an observed phenotype when, in fact, residual embryonic stem cell-derived genetic material in the genetic background or in the area immediately surrounding the ablated gene is actually responsible. The purpose of this review is to remind researchers, regardless of scientific discipline, that the background genetics of a knockout strain can have a profound influence on any observed phenotype. It is important that this issue be appropriately addressed during data collection and interpretation.
基因编辑技术在生物系统和信号通路的研究中发挥着至关重要的作用。尽管基因工程小鼠模型得到了广泛且有益的应用，但基因靶向技术存在潜在的缺点，且这些缺点并非总是被考虑在内。与该技术相关的疏忽可能导致对结果的错误解读；例如，当实际情况是基因背景中或被敲除基因紧邻区域残留的胚胎干细胞衍生遗传物质导致了观察到的表型时，对感兴趣基因的敲除可能看似导致了该表型。本综述的目的是提醒研究人员，无论其学科领域如何，基因敲除品系的背景遗传学可能会对任何观察到的表型产生深远影响。在数据收集和解读过程中妥善处理这个问题很重要。
