Genetic Management of Outbred Laboratory Rodent Populations

This document describes the Gold Standard populations of outbred laboratory animals that have been developed at Charles River Laboratories. Using modern techniques of population and molecular genetics, the Gold Standard populations are carefully managed in such a way as to preserve genetic variation and to provide a reliable source of outbred animals for experimental use. The Gold Standard animals are preferred for a number of applications, particularly those in which genetic variation in the response may be an issue. In the Gold Standard outbred populations, individual animals are genetically diverse, much like people are genetically diverse, so no two animals are genetically exactly alike.