FAQ

• Ozgene’s current average time for new mouse model completion is 29 weeks.
• Our fastest gene targeted mouse models have been generated in 20 weeks from project design to heterozygous targeted F1 mice.
• Please see our timelines for more information.

Ozgene is continuously improving project timelines by stabilising, standardising and refining each individual process using Lean management. Our proprietary goGermline™ technology is one of these process refinements, enabling us to generate your mice with the fastest, most efficient timelines possible, while significantly improving animal welfare.

• We have no project queues.
• Ozgene’s highly efficient project pipeline allows us to start projects without lengthy waiting periods.
• Your project will start as soon as Ozgene receives a signed contract and a purchase order.
• Get starting by requesting a free quote!

• Ozgene generates mouse models via gene targeting in ES cells using our proprietary goGermline™ technology, which vastly improves the 3R efficiencies and the timeline for development of gene targeted mouse models.
• We also use various technologies to validate and phenotype your mouse lines e.g. RT-qPCR, Western Blot, ELISA and flow cytometry.
• Ozgene also offers a service called OzBIG for robust creation of large, gene-targeted replacement models. This system enables routine generation of mouse models with very large (20 to 240 kb) genomic replacements.

Ozgene does not currently apply CRISPR-based genome editing for the following factors:

SLOWER SPEED

• First experimental cohorts can be generated faster with goGermline™ gene targeting than with CRISPR.

INACCURACY

• Mosaicism of the founder animals is expected with CRISPR and requires specific genotyping and breeding strategies of founders and/or their offspring to select animals that harbour the desired alleles.

OFF-TARGET EFFECTS

• CRISPR methodology introduces the risk of CRISPR-mediated off-target effects could lead to unpredictable phenotypes and research results.
• Gene targeting methodology, in contrast, does not introduce the risk of off target effects.

COMPROMISED ANIMAL WELFARE

• With CRISPR a large number of founder mice is usually required, compromising 3Rs.

REWORK

• CRISPR-based mouse models always require generation and characterisation of multiple individual F1 offspring to determine if the desired genomic modification has been established or not – resulting in a significant percentage of project restarts.
• Genetic modification by gene targeting in ES cells, on the other hand, ensures the correct modification at each progressive step of the process – resulting in no project restarts.

Ozgene offers a full spectrum of breeding options to:

• Breed your Ozgene-generated genetically engineered mouse line
• Import and breed an existing mouse line
• Expand a colony to provide breeding cohorts or experimental cohorts
• Cross-breed to other lines: Flp, Cre and others
• Breed your mice at Ozgene Australia or Ozgene USA

Ozgene offers gene targeting on the following backgrounds:

• C57BL/6J
• C57BL/6N
• BALB/c
• FVB/n
• NOD
• Less common strains as required

Yes – although we prefer to provide a full service from project design to heterozygous targeted F1 mice, so that we can apply our QC throughout the project and ensure targeting in ES cells and germline transmission in mice.

In our experience, we find it can be challenging to assist you with any potential issues with partial materials if we do not have control over the procedures in your laboratory and Vivarium.

If a full mouse model generation service is not an option for you, we can offer the following partial services:

• Generation of a gene targeting vector
• Generation of a targeted ES cells from an Ozgene vector or customer vector
• Generation of a gene targeted mouse line from customer or repository ES cells using goGermline™
• Breeding of experimental cohorts from Ozgene or other mouse models
• Validation and phenotyping of Ozgene or other mouse models

Ozgene’s off-the-shelf models are currently limited to those being used in-house:

• OzFlp – ubiquitously expressing Flp line
• OzCre – ubiquitously expressing Cre line
• OzCreERT2 – tamoxifen inducible Cre line

We generate genetically engineered humanised models where the human gene replaces the mouse gene, for example

• humanising point mutations,
• humanising domains, such as extracellular domains,
• humanising the entire gene,
• humanising multi-gene loci.

We recommend the OzBIG technology for large genomic humanisations (20-240 kb).

No, it does not.

• goGermline embryos are engineered to be spermatogenesis deficient. Therefore, all fertile male chimeras are germline heterozygous and exclusively transmit the ES cell genome. There is no offspring from the host embryo.
• The modification in the goGermline host embryos is cellularly and genetically separate from the cells and genetics of the F1 offspring.

• The initial design/proposal is free of charge and completely obligation free.
• Request a free quote!

• Ozgene offers strictly fee for service.
• For customised mouse model projects your intellectual property (IP) and materials generated for your project belong to you.
• Ozgene does not have ownership over any client IP, targeting vectors, ES cells or mouse models, and will not resell any project materials or mouse lines to third parties. 
• This also means that you do not need Ozgene licencing to use your mouse model.