Many common inherited human diseases — such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, autoimmune disease and cancer — are genetically complex, resulting from the interaction of more than one gene. Advances in genetic methods and the completed sequencing of the human and mouse genomes now make it feasible to detect, genetically map and identify the genes underlying these complex disorders.
The SMSR is a resource of special strains of mice that are important tools for genetic analysis of such complex diseases. The SMSR imports, cryopreserves and distributes these strains and stocks that are vital to discovery of quantitative trait loci (QTL) and the genes and gene pathways responsible for complex diseases. The unique genomes maintained for distribution by the SMSR include strains of the collaborative cross, panels of recombinant inbred (RI) and chromosome substitution (CS) strains, and wild-derived and other unique recombinant strains.