Mouse Maps

Atlases are not restricted to the confines of cartography; they also cover life at a much smaller scale. Using micro-computerised tomography, scientists have mapped out the structures of the mouse. Trying to understand how the human body works often requires us to look to mice, which share ninety per cent of our genome. Mutating genes in mice enables scientists to figure out what they might be doing in humans. If the gene in question is vital to survival, the developing mice often don’t make it to birth. Much can still be learnt from these mutant mouse embryos and that’s where the mouse atlas (pictured) comes into play. Scientists collected the average 3D measurements from normal mouse embryos, against which mutants can be compared to readily discover what physical differences a mutant gene can cause.

Written by Lux Fatimathas

Lux Fatimathas

Writer

Having pursued science through a career in research, communications and publishing, she is currently a writer and editor for a healthcare marketing agency and also juggles freelance science writing.

• Mark Henkelman, Michael Wong
• Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Canada
• Reproduced/adapted with permission from Development
• Published in Development 2012, 139(17):3248-56.