Working with SpectruMedix Corp., researchers at ORNL could soon find mutations in mice in months instead of years. Researchers are using the Temperature-Gradient Capillary Electrophoresis system to identify mutations simultaneously in 96 samples in less than an hour. This scanning technique has 13 times the capacity of conventional approaches and is also less expensive. At ORNL, researchers are focusing on identifying a cluster of five unknown mutations in mouse chromosome 7. These mutations affect genes critical for fetal development. Through a better understanding of mouse mutations, researchers hope to gain insights into the functions of human genes. The Temperature-Gradient Capillary Electrophoresis system was developed at Ames National Laboratory.
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