Evaluating mutant mice: Anatomic pathology

As the human and mouse genome projects approach their goals, initiatives in functional genomics are advancing. When the nucleotide sequences are avail able, identification of gene functions will assume even greater importance. Determination of gene products and their proximal biochemical functions pr ovide a part of the picture, but determination of their functions in the co ntext of the whole organism is the ultimate goal. The manipulated mouse gen ome has become accepted as a model for understanding the genetic basis of h uman conditions and diseases. Consequently, biomedical research institution s have seen significant increases in the use of mice since the early 1980s, and these increases are largely attributable to the use of genetically mod ified mice. The role of comparative pathology in research on mutant mouse m odels of disease is increasing in response to these trends. Evaluation and phenotypic characterization of mutant mice, via clinical and anatomic patho logy techniques, will be an important component of functional genomics init iatives.