Story perspectives

47% of Mouse Strains Mislabelled, Reproducibility at Risk

5/16/2026

Summary

Story summary

Researchers led by Fernando Pardo-Manuel de Villena found 47% of mouse strains at Mutant Mouse Research and Resource Centers are mislabeled.
They genotyped 611 samples from 341 strains at the University of North Carolina facility.
Immunologist Daniel Rawle said a 2022 study misinterpreted granzyme A deletion as protective against chikungunya arthritis because of strain mislabeling.
The authors warn shortcuts in the 10–20-generation cross-breeding process can retain donor-strain variation, threatening reproducibility.

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Story summary

Researchers led by Fernando Pardo-Manuel de Villena found 47% of mouse strains at Mutant Mouse Research and Resource Centers are mislabeled.
They genotyped 611 samples from 341 strains at the University of North Carolina facility.
Immunologist Daniel Rawle said a 2022 study misinterpreted granzyme A deletion as protective against chikungunya arthritis because of strain mislabeling.
The authors warn shortcuts in the 10–20-generation cross-breeding process can retain donor-strain variation, threatening reproducibility.