About Us
Our mission is not only to serve as a source of living animals, but also to enhance the research potential of this important genus. The two main functions of the Peromyscus Genetic Stock Center are:
- To furnish genetically defined, variant and normal, living Peromyscus or their tissues to investigators and educators for research and instruction.
- To improve Peromyscus as a laboratory animal resource.
About the Deer Mouse
The deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) and congeneric species are the most common native North American mammal. They range from Alaska to Central America and occur in many natural habitats. Because of their abundance, these mice constitute a major component of nearctic terrestrial ecosystems. Laboratory stocks of both wildtype and genetically variant Peromyscus are used for investigations in which laboratory-based studies can be interfaced with those of natural populations.
Peromyscus have become important research models for:
Hybrids of P maniculatus and P polionotus offer a unique opportunity to study the genes involved in genomic imprinting and speciation. Recent work at the PGSC has also shown that genome arrangement of Peromyscus is much more similar to Rat than Mus.
Peromyscus has been used to study the genes associated with coat color adaptation, altitude adaptation, and host-parasite cospeciation.
Brains of polygamous P maniculatus show hormone receptor patterns that differ markedly from the patterns observed in monogamous P polionotus. Other studies are currently examining the role of photoperiod and hormones on aggression and reproduction.
As the reservoir of several zoonotic diseases, Peromyscus is the focus of much research into the mechanisms underlying induction of the immune response. Because they live 4-5 years and the white-footed mouse lives 8 years they have been used as a grontological model to contrast with the house mouse which lives 2-3 years.
Peromyscus has been used in studies of alcohol dehydrogenase, and as models of bioavailability and bioaccumulation for ecological risk assessment.
Support the PGSC
The Peromyscus Genetic Stock Center is supported in part by the NSF and utilization of the center. By donating to the PGSC, you can help to enhance the research potential of this important experimental animal model.
Make your gift to the Peromyscus Genetic Stock Center through the university's fast, easy and secure online checkout process
Enter Pharmacy Other in the Search Funds by Name field, select the fund that populates, then follow the prompts to complete the form. Be sure to include Peromyscus Genetic Stock Center in the Gift Details field.
Mail a check payable to the USC Educational Foundation to the address below. Include Pharmacy: Other - Peromyscus Genetic Stock Center (Fund 1A3183A) in the memo line.
USC Educational Foundation
1027 Barnwell Street
Columbia, SC 29208