Methods for the behavioural phenotyping of mouse mutants. How to keep the overview.

The number of genetically engineered mice is constantly increasing. These animals play an important role in the development of useful models for human diseases. The Mutant Mice Behaviour-network, "MMB", was founded as a non-profit, international forum for presenting and discussing the behavioural phenotyping of these mice. The internet-based network will provide a standardised database that includes detailed descriptions of all parameters that might affect the behaviour of genetically engineered mice. This will lead to comprehensible and reproducible tests and, in the future, might lead to an interdisciplinary consensus on methods for mouse behavioural phenotyping.