The information given in this book tries to capture the essence of the sheer dynamicity of the cell along with useful tips on how to address critical rate limiting steps in the process of exploration and investigation of its capacity to regenerate, rebuild and replenish from within. The definitions of stem cells, stemness, and the niche concept continue to undergo revisions. In adult vertebrates, hematopoietic and some non-hematopoietic progenitors are synthesized within specialized niches of bone marrow. They migrate to designated tissues, and are either trans-differentiated or become quiescent and settle down. These form the stem cell niche reservoir in all tissues. Not only the primary hematopoietic tissue but all organs and tissues are also capable of generating progenitors which are either synthesized from these migrants or are direct recruits from other tissues. In the niches, the cells settle down and await their turn to either make more clones like themselves or differentiate and mobilize in an exigency. Thus progenitors are important reserves, to be multiplied and deployed or travel as important message bearing molecules via blood as circulating progenitors which can home to their allocated destinations. Upon reaching, specific integrins and selectins help them “dock” and “port” and they may be reprogrammed to induce further differentiation and help repopulate the denuded tissue. In pulmonary fibrosis and asthma, progenitors from both systemic circulation and local stem cell niches have been found to participate in the myriad ramifications of repair, replacement and regeneration of lost or diseased tissue. Whether they are lung specific or global in origin and role remain to be explored. Research tools, fundamental concepts, techniques, methodologies and standard operating protocols and animal models and human extrapolations, have been discussed in a concise way along with detailed description and discussion on the appropriate rationale to introduce the subject to the casual reader and provide valuable tactical information to the specialist in Regenerative Medicine. I sincerely hope you enjoy the work and appreciate the hard work that has gone into designing and executing elegant experiments by many researchers in the field. The branch is multi-disciplinary and I hope that the readers will not be limited to biologists alone.

Mouse Genetics: Methods and Protocols provide selected mouse genetic techniques and their application in modeling varieties of human diseases. The chapters are mainly focused on the generation of different transgenic mice to accomplish the manipulation of genes of interest, tracing cell lineages and modeling human diseases. Composed in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, each chapter contains a brief introduction, a list of necessary materials, systematic, readily reproducible methods and a notes section, which shares tips on troubleshooting in order to avoid known pitfalls. Comprehensive and authoritative, Mouse Genetics: Methods and Protocols promises to deliver fundamental techniques and protocols to geneticists, molecular biologists, cell and developmental biologists, students and postdoctoral fellows working in the various disciplines of mouse biology and modeling human disease.

“Perspectives in Inflammation Biology” outlines detailed studies using preclinical murine models in Inflammation. The book is meant for academicians, industry persons, research scholars and students alike. The detailed perspective for a beginner and the exhaustive methodologies and analyses outlined, for the veteran researcher, makes this book a unique link between someone who is thinking of embarking on a study of inflammation and one who is delving deep into this area of specialization. The book deals with asthma and allergy as specific disease areas of inflammation of the lung, aseptic peritonitis as a disease of systemic inflammation and details how each role player in its pathophysiology has a unique niche of activity. Data acquisition, sequentiality and analyses in context demonstrate how each role player is validated systematically to become a target for drug discovery. Methods and models used in the course of my work and their relevance will demonstrate to the researcher how a study can be developed from an idea. Further into a researcher’s ongoing work, this book is meant to stimulate new questions and pave ways for better dissection of a phenomenon. The highlights of this book are the detailed tables tabulating sub species of immune cells, their inflammatory recruitment indices, their translation into tissue-to-tissue traffic of the inflammatory stimulus and the delicate interplay of resident structural cells, cells recruited from circulation, their feedback poiesis in bone marrow, their instruction in the lymphoid organs and tissues as well as the non-cellular mediators synthesized from corresponding genetic instruction. The book shall definitely help students and researchers how a disease can be simplified from its complex ramifications and network of implications and put back into perspective and the whole thing falls into place without an intimate understanding of the mechanism and the compelling circumstances that causes a disease, a drug hunter cannot hope to begin her quest. To find the “Achilles’ heel” and effectively neutralize the enemy!

Rabies is the deadliest zoonotic disease that threatens humans and animals on all continents except Antarctica. Asia and Africa are worst affected as more than 95 per cent of rabies associated human deaths occur in these regions. India alone bears about 36 per cent of the global human rabies burden. Dogs are the main transmitters of rabies that potentially threaten over 3 billion people in Asia and Africa. Many developed nations have been able to successfully control dog rabies but continue to face the risk from wildlife including bats. Bat rabies is responsible for most human rabies deaths in the United States of America and Canada but has emerged as a public health threat in Australia, Latin America and Western Europe as well. Despite being vaccine preventable, rabies continues to haunt the mankind. Poor resources is a major constraint but the factors like low priority attributed to rabies, misconceptions in the community about the disease and unsystematic approach for its prevention and control are also responsible for the grim situation. Targets have been set for elimination of human and dog rabies in all Latin American countries by 2015 and of human rabies transmitted by dogs in South-East Asia by 2020. However, the myths prevailing among the people together with inadequate knowledge of the health professionals, veterinarians, and the civic body staff about the rabies prevention and control strategies might make the task very difficult. This book comprising eight chapters elaborates the causation of rabies in man and animals, its global epidemiology, risk analysis and effective strategies for the management of exposures. Proven methods of rabies prevention and control have been discussed in length along with the challenges and ways to overcome the constraints through intersectoral coordination. The inclusion of 200 frequently asked questions is a unique feature of the book which may help not only the common people and pet lovers in clearing their doubts about rabies in man and animals also be equally instrumental in updating the knowledge and skills of the public health personnel, veterinarians and other professionals. Apt illustrations and simple language make the contents of the book easily comprehensible and a reading pleasure.

In Developmental Biology of the Sea Urchin and Other Marine Invertebrates: Methods and Protocols, expert researchers in the field detail many of the methods which are now used to study sea urchins and other marine invertebrates in the laboratory. These include methods and protocols on imaging, other useful experimental tools for cell, developmental biology research, variety of molecular biological methods, and strategies for utilizing the sea urchin genome. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and key tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Developmental Biology of the Sea Urchin and other Marine Invertebrates: Methods and Protocols seeks to aid scientists in the further study into sea urchins and other marine invertebrates.

This volume provides a comprehensive collection of protocols on new technology across various model organisms. Chapters describe species-specific methods to generate new mutants the content is completed by chapters on natural TAL effectors, TAL element DNA binding principles, TALEN target site prediction, and methods for the efficient construction of TALEN coding regions. While addition chapter focus on the application of TALEN as sequence-specific nucleases and TAL based gene activators or inhibitors and the visualization of chromatin dynamics in live cells. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, TALENs: Methods and Protocols aims to ensure successful results in the further study of this vital field.

The aim of this volume is to provide a step-by-step guide for implementing a selection of novel techniques in the lab. Each protocol in this volume is presented as a standalone chapter, specifically geared towards addressing practical needs without presuming prior knowledge of the technique at hand. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and key tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, C. elegans: Methods and Applications, Second Edition aims to ensure successful results in the further study of this dynamic field.

Movement is the way that animals interact with their environment and is under the organization and complex control of the brain and spinal cord. Multiple central nervous systems, including cortex, basal ganglia, cerebellum, and brainstem, interact to provide precise motor control and integration. Damage or disease within these systems cause profound motor disturbances in man, which can be effectively modeled in animals to develop a better understanding and treatment of the human condition. Animal Models of Movement Disorders introduces a variety of methods and techniques used to model and assess motor function in experimental animals from lower orders, such as drosophila and c. elegans, through vertebrate species including fish, to mammals, such as rodents and non-human primates. The most advanced contemporary models in each system are presented at multiple levels of analysis from molecular and genetic modeling, lesions, anatomy, neurochemistry, to imaging and behavior. Volume I contains general methods of movement disorder assessment as well as an extensive section on dopamine systems. Comprehensive and meticulous, Animal Models of Movement Disorders serves as a valuable reference for those studying motor disorders by covering methodologies in detail and providing the information necessary to consider both the appropriate models and assessment tools that can most informatively answer the key experimental issues in the field.

The small fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, has for over a century now had a large impact on biological and biomedical research; however, our knowledge of the fly brain has lagged significantly behind our understanding of other aspects of its development, physiology, and function. In The Making and Un-Making of Neuronal Circuits in Drosophila, innovative expert neuroscientists in the field present the ideas and concepts behind the methods, tools, and tricks that are currently being utilized to decode the secrets of this valuable insect's brain. Focused on the concept of a neuronal circuit, defined as a series of synaptically connected neurons subservient to a particular behavioral modality, this volume contains chapters dealing with anatomical analysis with a focus on cellular and sub-cellular morphologies. These detailed approaches fall under the headings of "Physiology" and "Behavior", conveniently divided the book into two sections. Written in the easy-to-follow Neuromethods series format, this work provides the kind of detailed description and implementation advice that is crucial for getting optimal results. Inventive and accessible, The Making and Un-Making of Neuronal Circuits in Drosophila provides the information and tools necessary to carry out current experiments and, more importantly, further advance the progress of the Drosophila neurobiology field and neurobiology in general.

The successful previous volume on this topic provided a detailed benchwork manual for the most commonly used animal models of acute neurological injuries including cerebral ischemia, hemorrhage, vasospasm, and traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. Animal Models of Acute Neurological Injuries II: Injury and Mechanistic Assessments aims to collect chapters on assessing these disorders from cells and molecules to behavior and imaging. These comprehensive assessments are the key for understanding disease mechanisms as well as developing novel therapeutic strategies to ameliorate or even prevent damages to the nervous system. Volume 1 examines general assessments in morphology, physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology, neurobehavior, and neuroimaging, as well as extensive sections on subarachnoid hemorrhage, cerebral vasospasm, and intracerebral hemorrhage. Designed to provide both expert guidance and step-by-step procedures, chapters serve to increase understanding in what, why, when, where, and how a particular assessment is used. Accessible and essential, Animal Models of Acute Neurological Injuries II: Injury and Mechanistic Assessments will be useful for trainees or beginners in their assessments of acute neurological injuries, for experienced scientists from other research fields who are interested in either switching fields or exploring new opportunities, and for established scientists within the field who wish to employ new assessments.

The successful previous volume on this topic provided a detailed benchwork manual for the most commonly used animal models of acute neurological injuries including cerebral ischemia, hemorrhage, vasospasm, and traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. Animal Models of Acute Neurological Injuries II: Injury and Mechanistic Assessments aims to collect chapters on assessing these disorders from cells and molecules to behavior and imaging. These comprehensive assessments are the key for understanding disease mechanisms as well as developing novel therapeutic strategies to ameliorate or even prevent damages to the nervous system. Volume 2 examines global cerebral ischemia, focal cerebral ischemia, and neonatal hypoxia-ischemia, as well as intensive sections covering traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury. Designed to provide both expert guidance and step-by-step procedures, chapters serve to increase understanding in what, why, when, where, and how a particular assessment is used. Accessible and essential, Animal Models of Acute Neurological Injuries II: Injury and Mechanistic Assessments will be useful for trainees or beginners in their assessments of acute neurological injuries, for experienced scientists from other research fields who are interested in either switching fields or exploring new opportunities, and for established scientists within the field who wish to employ new assessments.

During the 20th century Xenopus has flourished as an accessible experimental model system for studying vertebrate biology. The second edition of Xenopus Protocols:Post-Genomic Approaches expands upon the previous edition with novel approaches inspired by Xenopus tropicalis and the sequencing of its genome. Xenopus tropicalis genomics and tractable genetics combined with the unique experimental advantages of Xenopus laevis and their distinctive phylogenetic position make them unique model systems for vertebrate embryonic development in the 21st century. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology (TM) series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and key tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Xenopus Protocols: Post-Genomic Approaches, Second Edition provides a toolkit that will enable every laboratory to maximize the power of this extraordinary experimental system in the post-genomic age.

Although the available models, whether at the cellular, tissue, or animal level, do not exactly represent the biology of human brain tumors, animal models can offer significant insights into these tumors, providing a better understanding of biological mechanisms underlying tumor generation, growth, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. Animal Models of Brain Tumors brings together developments and discoveries in "in vivo" experimental tumor research that have provided advances in our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the generation, progression, and clinical outcome of brain neoplasms. Broken into convenient sections, this thorough volume includes topics such as animal model insights into human brain neoplasms, the cellular, molecular, and genetic basis of brain tumors, therapies in the treatment of malignant glioma, as well as imaging technologies in animal tumor models, i.e. measuring brain tumor growth and metabolism. Written for the popular Neuromethods series, chapters include the kind of detailed description and implementation advice that is essential for achieving successful results. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Animal Models of Brain Tumors provides the key methods needed to validate, compare, and contrast the animal model with its proposed human counterpart and further the understanding of our own serious ailments.

New high throughput techniques in neuroscience and psychiatry have enhanced the development of experimental, customizable animal models that are predictive of human neuropsychiatric pathology and give vital insights on the mechanisms and pathways involved. In Psychiatric Disorders: Methods and Protocols, key experts have written integrated chapters on neuropsychiatric research sharing their insightful expertise and opinions focusing on both the animal models as well as the cutting edge techniques applied. Beginning with an overview of the animal research in psychiatric illness and substance abuse, this comprehensive volume continues with the modeling of neuropsychiatric illness, drug abuse paradigms and techniques, biomarker identification, autoimmune inflammatory response, and neuroendocrine alteration in the areas of psychiatry, as well as state-of-the-art "Omics approaches" and neurosystems biology/data mining techniques to compute and analyze genomic and proteomics alteration occurring within neuropsychiatric models. As a part of the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology (TM) series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Thorough and easily applicable, Psychiatric Disorders: Methods and Protocols offers the detailed and clearly illustrated tools necessary for neuroscientists and psychiatrists to handle many unanswered scientific questions with a more creative and insightful approach.

As the drug discovery process shifts more and more toward specifically targeting pathways and molecules, model systems continue to increase in importance, and the mouse, with its versatility, ease of use, and remarkable similarity to the human genome, has clearly risen to the forefront of animal model studies. In Mouse Models for Drug Discovery: Methods and Protocols, experts in the field present some background for those less familiar with mice as experimental model platforms as well as a collection of techniques involving general methods as well as specific disease topics such as type 1 and 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, skin disorders, cancer, the use of behavioral models for depression and anxiety, neurodegenerative diseases, neuromuscular diseases, and infectious diseases. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology (TM) series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and easy-to-use, Mouse Models for Drug Discovery: Methods and Protocols will stimulate those not familiar with the power of the mouse and its potential for the drug discovery process, and it will encourage the development of new models and new ways to utilize existing models in order to further the use of this dynamic animal in this vital field.

Using rodent models, this volume explores the basic neurobiology of the relationship among chronic pain, opioid pharmacology, and addiction.

This book describes experimental animal models that mimic common human ocular diseases: herpetic keratitis, cataract, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, uveitis, retinitis pigmentosa, Graves' disease, and intraocular tumors. In conjunction, these models reflect the diversity and utility of tools used to study human disease. World expert clinicians discuss each model based on their clinical experience and the text is supported by numerous photos and diagrams. In describing the most pertinent animal models of ophthalmic diseases, this book will be of interest to ophthalmologists, vision researchers, fellows, residents and medical students.

This detailed volume provides diagnosticians and researchers with practical methodologies and approaches to tackle animal coronaviruses. It explores conventional immunohistochemistry, virus neutralization, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, expression and purification of recombinant viral proteins, and various molecular assays, including conventional and real-time reverse transcription-PCR, reverse genetics methodology, and next generation sequencing and sequence analyses. As part of the Springer Protocols Handbooks series, chapters contain readily reproducible laboratory protocols as well as expert tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Practical and authoritative, Animal Coronaviruses serves as an ideal reference for researchers examining a wide variety of coronavirus species in the Coronaviridae.

This volume provides a transdisciplinary and translational review of many of the leading murine models used to study the mechanisms, mediators and biomarkers linking energy balance to cancer. It provides a review of murine models that should be of interest to basic, clinical and applied research investigators as well as nutrition scientists and students that work in cancer prevention, cancer control and treatment. The worldwide obesity pandemic has been extensively studied by epidemiologic and observational studies and even, in some cases, by randomized controlled trials. However, the development and control of obesity, its comorbidities and its impact on cancer usually occurs over such long periods that it is difficult, if not impossible to conduct randomized controlled trials in humans to investigate environmental contributions to obesity, energy balance and their impact on cancer. In contrast, model organisms, especially mice and rats, provide valuable assets for performing these studies under rigorously controlled conditions and in sufficient numbers to provide statistically significant results. In this volume, many of the leading and new murine models used to study the mechanisms and mediators linking cancer with obesity, sleep, exercise, their modification by environment and how they may continue to be used to further elucidate these relations as well as to explore preclinical aspects of prevention and/or therapeutic intervention are considered. This volume provides an important compilation and analysis of major experimental systems and principles for further preclinical research with translational impact on energy balance and cancer.

This book, written by experienced geneticists, covers topics ranging from the natural history of the mouse species, its handling and reproduction in the laboratory, and its classical genetics and cytogenetics, to modern issues including the analysis of the transcriptome, the parental imprinting and X-chromosome inactivation. The strategies for creating all sorts of mutations, either by genetic engineering or by using mutagens, are also reviewed and discussed in detail. Finally, a last chapter outlines the methodology used for the analysis of complex or quantitative traits. The authors also discuss the importance of accurate phenotyping, which is now performed in the mouse clinics established worldwide and identify the limits of the mouse model, which under certain circumstances can fail to present the phenotype expected from the cognate condition in the human model. For each chapter an up-to-date list of pertinent references is provided. In short, this book offers an essential resource for all scientists who use or plan to use mice in their research.

Ocular toxicity is routinely assessed in toxicology studies conducted for regulatory purposes. Ocular anatomy and physiology and the assessment of ocular toxicity itself can be challenging to scientists involved in the safety assessment of pharmaceuticals, pesticides and other agents. Anatomical and physiological differences between species can impact the nature of ocular effects observed following intended or unintended exposure of ocular tissues to xenobiotics. Ocular Toxicity in Laboratory Animals provides a concise reference addressing ocular anatomy and physiology across species that will enhance the design and interpretation of toxicology studies conducted for regulatory purposes. The book provides an overview of routine and advanced techniques that are used to assess ocular toxicity including slit lamp biomicroscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy, electrophysiology and imaging methods for the anterior and posterior segments of the eye. Additionally, the book defines the regulatory expectations for pharmaceuticals intended to treat ocular diseases and for other non-pharmaceutical regulated chemicals. With contributions from experts in the field, Ocular Toxicity in Laboratory Animals is an authoritative, accessible guide for toxicologists and other scientists involved in conducting toxicology studies for regulatory purposes and/or reviewing data from such studies.

This book describes in detail various aspects of fluoride toxicity in animals. Animals, like human beings, suffer from the toxic effects of excess fluoride intake. They show pathological changes in their teeth and bone, together with a marked reduction in appetite, productive and reproductive potentials, which can result in severe economic losses in the dairy industry. Laboratory and wild animals also suffer from this ailment. Animal suffering and economic losses alike can be minimized through early diagnosis of the problem and by adopting suitable preventive and therapeutic measures. The book details the susceptibility of different animal species, important sources of toxicity, clinical signs and symptoms, pathophysiology, diagnostic methods, preventive and therapeutic approaches. It offers a valuable resource for scientists working in the fields of toxicology, veterinary science, animal nutrition, and environmental science, as well as for public health workers, animal welfare activists, public health veterinarians, field veterinarians, medical professionals and all others interested in the subject.

This volume is essential for geneticists, molecular biologists, biochemists, and medical doctors interested in the use of mouse models in cancer research. Recent genome studies, together with refined genetic engineering techniques, have greatly increased the value of using mice for research on cancer and other human disorders. The chapters of this book will support scientists in choosing the most suitable mouse models for their research questions. The book provides detailed methodological information for genetic or chemical induction of different types of cancer, histomorphometric cancer analysis, and in vivo imaging, as well as protocols to investigate oncogene addiction, immune surveillance, and hallmarks of cancer such as angiogenesis or metastasis. Four review-like articles provide background information on mouse technologies and histopathologic differences between mouse and human cancers. The mouse models described in individual chapters will fuel the understanding of cancer initiation, immune system roles, tumor angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, and the relevance of molecular diversity observed among human cancers. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting-edge and resourceful, Mouse Models of Cancers: Methods and Protocols, is a valuable laboratory resource for all researchers, from the graduate level upwards, who study cancer and new possibilities for its treatment.

The ovary is a suitable organ for studying the processes of cell death. Cell death was first described in the rabbit ovary (Graaffian follicles), the phenomenon being called 'chromatolysis'. To date, it is recognized that various forms of cell death (programmed cell death, apoptosis and autophagy) are essential components of ovarian development and function. Programmed cell death is responsable for the ovarian endowment of primordial follicles around birth; in the prepuberal and adult period, apoptosis is a basic mechanism by which oocytes are eliminated by cancer therapies and environmental toxicants; in the ovarian cycle, follicular atresia and luteal regression involve follicular cell apoptosis. Finally, abnormalities in cell death processes may lead to ovarian disease such as cancer and chemoresistance. In this book, after an introductory description of various forms of cell death and of the ovary development and function in mammals, the processes of cell death in ovarian somatic cells and oocytes are described at cytological, physiological and molecular levels and analyzed in the embryonic, prepuberal and adult ovary. A complex array of molecular pathways triggered by extrinsic and intrinsic signals able tor induce or suppress cell death in the same cell, according to cell type and ovary developmental stage, emerges. Physiological interactions with the axis hypothalamus-hypophysis as well as ovarian internal functional signal are also critically reviewed to explain the abortive development of follicles before the beginning of the ovarian cycle. The book conveys information useful to the updating of biologists and physicians who are interested to the ovary biology and functions. Hopefully it should provide also clues for stimulating novel experiments in the study of cell death in the mammalian ovary still at an early stage.

Cell culture based research is important for our understanding of biological processes at the cellular and molecular level. Using this approach, the previous decades have produced a wealth of mechanistic information in all areas of biomedical research. Such in vitro research, however, lacks the complexity of in vivo investigations, where many different cell types interact with each other in a normal, three-dimensional environment, with normal levels of cytokines and growth factors. Furthermore, complex human diseases, such as cancer, diabetes or chronic inflammation, can only be modeled in vivo. Due to its small size, its short reproduction time, and the possibility to introduce specific gene mutations, the mouse has become the favourite mammalian model organism to study in vivo function of genes during development and in disease. This book combines review articles on selected subjects presented at the symposium "Mouse as a Model Organism - From Animals to Cells", held in Rovaniemi, Finland, 2009. Among other topics, high-throughput phenotyping of mouse mutants, mouse phenotypes dependent on nature and nuture, and a spectrum of in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro methods to study cancer in mice are described. This book will give an excellent introduction to scientists interested in the use of mice as a model to understand complex biological questions in the post-genomic era. It will highlight the possibilities, but also discuss the current problems and shortcomings, to give a realistic view of the current state-of-art in this fascinating field of biomedical research.