Genetic Contamination of an SJL/J Mouse Colony: Rapid Detection by PCR-based Microsatellite Analysis.

ABSTRACT

Six simple sequence-length polymorphisms (SSLPs), or microsatellites, generated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), were used to detect genetic contamination of an SJL/J mouse colony in a faster and more economical way than standard immunologic and biochemical markers. The marker set was chosen to assess SJL authenticity and to distinguish a possible outcross with BALB/c, the only other albino strain maintained at the facility. Evidence of genetic contamination as a result of an outcross with BALB/c was found, and the results were ready within a workday.