Trans-Regulation of Mouse Meiotic Recombination Hotspots by Rcr1
2009

How a Gene Regulates Recombination Hotspots in Mice

Sample size: 6028 publication 10 minutes Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Parvanov Emil D, Ng Siemon H. S, Petkov Petko M, Paigen Kenneth

Primary Institution: Center for Genome Dynamics, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America

Hypothesis

What factors control the location and activity of meiotic recombination hotspots in mice?

Conclusion

The study identified a gene called Rcr1 that regulates the activity of multiple meiotic recombination hotspots in mice.

Supporting Evidence

  • Rcr1 was mapped to a 5.30-Mb region on mouse Chromosome 17.
  • The study showed that the presence of CAST alleles can activate or suppress hotspot activity.
  • Both crossover and noncrossover events were affected by the Rcr1 gene.

Takeaway

Scientists found a gene that helps decide where and how often DNA is mixed up during the creation of sperm and eggs in mice, which is important for making babies.

Methodology

The researchers compared recombination maps from different mouse strains and used genetic crosses to identify the effects of the Rcr1 gene.

Potential Biases

Potential bias due to the limited genetic diversity of the mouse strains used.

Limitations

The study focused only on specific mouse strains and may not generalize to all mammals.

Participant Demographics

Mice from C57BL/6J and CAST/EiJ strains were used in the study.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pbio.1000036

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