The MBP offers an array of technical and professional expertise for customized genotypic and phenotypic characterization of mice. Mice can be genotyped for specific mutations by PCR or Southern blotting, and pedigree can be analyzed for selected strains of mice with microsatellite or single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis. A wide array of phenotyping support is available to the scientific community, including established core laboratories for behavior, nutrition and body composition, metabolism, cardiovascular biology, imaging (CT scan, Magnetic Resonance, Dexa MicroPET), immunology, and ophthalmology. The exceptionally large biology, veterinary, and medical faculty at UC Davis allows the MBP to maintain a growing network of cooperative scientists in a variety of disciplines who are interested in referral and specialized phenotypic analysis of mutants. This network is expanding among faculty at other UC campuses. As program need evolves, core laboratories are being, and can be, developed in specialized areas of need. The MBP can link you with scientists within the cooperative network to enhance your mouse-related research and encourage collaborative interactions.

     A hallmark of the MBP is comparative mouse pathology, facilitated by the combined expertise of nationally renowned veterinary and medical mouse pathologists, with opportunities for referral of case material to a number of specialized veterinary and medical systems pathologists in the Schools of Veterinary Medicine and Medicine. Developmental (embryonic and fetal) phenotyping is available. Pathology support can be customized, ranging from routine "Tier 1" surveys, including clinical pathology, hematology and histopathology, to advanced experimental pathology support, including electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization. The MBP receives pathology referrals from all over the world, and maintains the world's largest mutant mouse pathology archive, with over 8,000 accessions representing 250 different mutants. Full service clinical chemistry equipment is available for analysis of blood and body fluids. Image acquisition and electronic transfer of images (gross, microscopic, ultrastructural) is provided, facilitating long-distance collaborations and referrals.