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Mouse Model Strategies & Allele Types

Dominant Negative

A mutant allele that encodes a protein that not only loses its normal function but also interferes with the activity of the wild-type protein. The resulting phenotype mimics or exceeds the severity of a full loss-of-function mutation.

Overview

A dominant negative allele encodes a mutant protein that not only loses its normal function but also interferes with the activity of the wild-type protein. The resulting phenotype mimics or exceeds the severity of a full loss-of-function mutation, even when the wild-type allele is still present.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do dominant negative mutations work?

Dominant negative effects typically arise in genes whose products function as multimers or in signaling pathways where the mutant protein competes with or blocks normal components.

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Related Terms

Hypomorphic / Null Allele

Hypomorphic alleles partially reduce gene function, and null alleles abolish it entirely. Both are critical tools in mouse model research for studying gene dosage and loss-of-function effects.

Gain-of-Function vs. Loss-of-Function Mutations

A gain-of-function mutation increases or creates a new activity for a gene or protein, while a loss-of-function mutation reduces or abolishes normal function. Both mutation types play central roles in disease biology and are critical tools in genetic research.

Knockin (KI) Mouse Models

A genetically engineered mouse in which a specific DNA sequence—such as a gene, cDNA, mutation, reporter, or human ortholog—is inserted into a defined genomic locus to add or modify gene function.

More in Mouse Model Strategies & Allele Types

Knockout (KO) Mouse ModelsConditional Knockout (cKO) Mouse ModelsConventional (Constitutive) Knockout Mouse ModelsKnockin (KI) Mouse ModelsHumanized Mouse Models
Cytokine / Receptor HumanizationView All TermsDre-rox System (Alternate Recombinase)

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