Welcome to the Animal Models Core

The UNC Animal Models Core Facility was established to provide mouse genetic modification services, reagents and related technologies. The Core's services are available to both UNC and Non-UNC clients. Services for creating transgenic mice include transgene design, construct generation, isolation of the transgene fragment, pronuclear microinjection, founder genotyping and breeding. The core also offers the full suite of services for construction and microinjection of BAC (bacterial artificial chromosome) transgenes. Transgenic animals are typically generated in a C57BL/6 or C57BL/6 X DBA2 hybrid strain. Gene targeting services include design and cloning of targeting vectors, creating gene-targeted ES cells, blastocyst microinjection of the ES cells to create transmitting chimeras and breeding for germline transmission.  The core can also provide validation and blastocyst microinjection of ES cells from KOMP or other consortia. Additional services include Cre- or Flp-mediated excision in ES cells or in vivo, chromosome counting, PCR screening and Southern blotting. Reagents available include mouse genomic DNA (for PCR and Southern hybridization assays) and several plasmids useful for engineering transgene and gene targeting vectors. To obtain transgenic or gene-targeted mouse services, UNC clients must fill out a "Service Request Form" (see "forms and fees") and email the electronic copy to the core director. The client must provide assurance that an "Application to Use Live Vertebrate Animals" covering the genetically modified mice to be made by the facility has been approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The client must also provide the grant or source of funds to pay for reagents and services and a contact person in the client's lab that acts as a contact between the facility and client. Non-UNC clients should contact the core director for project information and pricing.