JAX® Microinjection Service

DNA and embryonic stem (ES) cell microinjection from the mouse experts to produce custom genetically modified mice

NEW: DNA Microinjection Service now available into NOD/ShiLtJ embryos

DNA Microinjection Service

Key benefits

  • A cell undergoing microinjectionExtensive model development experience with well-established protocols
  • DNA injection into your choice of C57BL/6J (000664), FVB/NJ (001800) or NOD/ShiLtJ (001976) embryos
  • Minimum of three founders*
  • Eliminates the time and expense of backcrossing
  • All mice produced are specific and opportunistic pathogen-free (SOPF)

Customer-supplied materials

  • At least 50µg of purified plasmid or supercoiled BAC DNA
  • Map of the plasmid denoting required restriction enzyme sites
  • An agarose gel image of the digested plasmid 
  • Expected phenotype (if any) and other pertinent information

Deliverables

  • DNA preparation and injection into 250 embryos
  • Delivery of all weaned mice, typically 50 or more*
  • Project completion in 12 to 14 weeks
  • All mice produced are SOPF

* If JAX performs the genotyping, we will provide a minimum of three or more founders or we will repeat injections at no additional cost.

ES Cell Microinjection Service

Key benefits

  • Microinjection of gene-targeted ES cells into 100 C57BL/6J or B6(Cg)-Tyrc-2J/J (000058) embryos
  • All mice produced are specific and opportunistic pathogen-free (SOPF)

Customer-supplied materials

  • At least two frozen vials each containing six million or more gene-targeted 129 or C57BL/6 ES cells
  • Appropriate cell background information (e.g. parental cell line, special culture conditions, expected phenotype) and other pertinent information

Deliverables

  • Preparation of ES cells and microinjection into 100 C57BL/6J or B6(Cg)-Tyrc-2J/J embryos
  • Mice produced scored for coat-color chimerism† 
  • Delivery of all chimeric mice produced and certified SOPF health report
  • Project completion in 12 to 14 weeks

† Approximately 90% of our projects yield coat color chimeric mice.

JAX® Speed Expansion Service

JAX can quickly expand your new model using our Speed Expansion Service. All mice will be the same age and at a SOPF status. Using IVF, we routinely produce cohorts of mice that can be used to jump start a breeding colony or perform characterization studies. This saves months over traditional breeding approaches.

Note: We cannot accept transgenic service projects that require laboratory or animal room procedures at the BSL2/ABSL2 level or higher. For example, we will not make transgenic mice from lentiviral or adenoviral vectors, either by infection or DNA microinjection.

Note that a key component to successful mutant mouse production is the ability of the ES cell line to colonize the developing host embryo and contribute to the germline of the resulting mice. The ES cells used in this technique must be maintained properly and have a normal karyotype. Mouse ES cells that do not have a normal karyotype (complete and correct compliment of chromosomes) will not produce germline competent mice. At best, they will produce germline competent mice at a very low frequency.

Related JAX® Services

Get started