A hybrid transgenic mouse that should allow linking of geneticmutation rates and tumor formation is the offspring of anagreement announced Thursday between two Californiacompanies.

Stratagene of La Jolla and GenPharm International Inc. ofMountain View have crossed their mice to create the TSG-p53/Big Blue mouse. This creature combines Stratagene'smutagenesis-testing Big Blue strain and GenPharm's mousewith an inactive p53 tumor suppresser gene useful for thestudy of tumorigenesis.

The hybrid will be marketed with Stratagene's mutagenesisassay system and is expected to be available through bothcompanies later this year.

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