User:Rockpocket/MGP/ASXL1

Model organisms
Model organisms have been used in the study of ASXL1 function. A conditional knockout mouse line, called Asxl1tm1a(EUCOMM)Wtsi was generated as part of the International Knockout Mouse Consortium program — a high-throughput mutagenesis project to generate and distribute animal models of disease to interested scientists.

Male and female animals underwent a standardized phenotypic screen to determine the effects of deletion. Twenty five tests were carried out on mutant mice and four significant abnormalities were observed. Few homozygous mutant embryos were identified during gestation and those that were alive had craniofacial and eye defects, none survived until weaning. The remaining tests were carried out on heterozygous mutant adult mice; decreased vertebrae number and increased bone strength was observed in these animals.