MouseTRACS is a Laboratory Information Management System that helps to track large numbers of animals in a centralized breeding facility. With its advanced features, researchers can easily manage and organize data related to animal breeding and maintenance.
MouseTRACS operates as a web-based laboratory informatics system that electronically records and organizes mouse colony operations, tracks inventory, manages requests, prints cage cards, and reports Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) protocol usage. The software's strength lies in its ability to visualize data and identify mutants for efficient phenotype screening.
The software integrates and displays phenotype and genotype data using likelihood odds ratio (LOD) plots of genetic linkage between genotype and phenotype, enabling more detailed mapping intervals through Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) markers in the context of phenotype. Dynamic pedigree diagrams and inventory reports linked to screening results summarize the inheritance pattern and the degree of penetrance further.
MouseTRACS displays screening data in tables and uses standard charts, such as box plots, histograms, and scatter plots. Additionally, users can customize charts to view clustered mice or cross pedigree comparisons.
Installation of MouseTRACS involves uploading scripts to the cgi-bin directory while updating library paths, server name, and database login information in configuration files. If symbolic link following is enabled on Apache, users can make links to distribution folders instead of copying them to expected locations.
MouseTRACS requirements include a web browser such as IE, Firefox, or Safari, an Apache web server, a MySQL database, and Java 1.4+ browser plugin. In summary, MouseTRACS enables the efficient screening, analysis, and management of thousands of animals to identify novel gene functions and find mutant mice effectively.
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