Genetically Engineered Mouse Core (GEMC)

The Genetically Engineered Mouse Core (GEMC) provides a centralized service to efficiently produce infection-free transgenic, chimeric, and advanced genome-edited strains of mice. These mice carry randomly inserted transgenes and/or site-specific alterations in the mouse genome of specific interest to Penn researchers. The GEMC offers services including DNA pronuclear injection into fertilized oocytes (along with genotyping of transgenic founders), ES cell injection into blastocysts, cytoplasmic/pronuclear injections into fertilized oocytes, embryo and sperm cryopreservation, in vitro fertilization, and pathogen-free re-derivation of live and cryopreserved lines. In collaboration with the CRISPR/Cas9 Mouse Targeting Core, the GEMC utilizes cutting-edge technologies to efficiently and cost-effectively generate knock-out, knock-in, and other complex genetic modifications in mice.

Grant Citation

Please cite the Center for Molecular Studies in Digestive and Liver Diseases (P30DK050306) in all publications related to core usage.

Director

Douglas J. Epstein, Ph.D. - epsteind@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Core Personnel

Technical Director

Kathy Moosebrugger. - kthompso@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Services

• DNA Injection

  Injection of DNA into mouse zygotes (fertilized oocytes) for the production of transgenic mice or embryos.

• ES cell Injection

  Injection of embryonic stem cells into blastocysts (3.5-day embryo) for the production of chimeric mice.

• RNA Injection

  Injection of a mix of Cas9 RNA/prot., gRNA and/or ssDNA/dsDNA into mouse zygotes for the production of site-directed genome-edited mice.

• Mouse Line Rederivation

  Surgical transfer of embryos into pathogen-free recipient females, where they can develop to term.

• Embryo Cryopreservation

  Controlled freezing of mouse embryos for preservation in liquid nitrogen.

• Sperm Cryopreservation

  An alternate and less expensive procedure to preserve important mouse lines.

• In-Vitro Fertilization

Through this process, a mouse line that undergoes reproductive obstacles can be rescued.

Website: https://genetics.med.upenn.edu/genetically-engineered-mouse-core-facility/