Knowledge of the full mouse genome, which is published in the journal PLoS Biology, will now allow scientists to neatly separate the biology humans share with mice from biology found in one species only. This will enhance scientists’ ability to select the genes most applicable to human disease when developing mouse models.  

'Completion of the genome is extremely important in helping us to identify the genes that underpin biology that is the same across all mammals, and to separate the genes in common from those that make humans and mice so different from one another,’ said Professor Ponting.

‘By filling in the gaps left by the previous version of the mouse genome, a vast treasury of new genes has been revealed. Many of these newly discovered genes are evolving at an unusually rapid pace.’