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The expanded BXD family of mice: A cohort for experimental systems genetics and precision medicine

David George AshbrookiD, Danny ArendsiD, Pjotr PrinsiD, Megan K. MulliganiD, Suheeta RoyiD, Evan G. WilliamsiD, Cathleen M. LutziD, Alicia ValenzuelaiD, Casey J. Bohl, Jesse F. Ingels, Melinda S. McCarty, Arthur G. CentenoiD, Reinmar HageriD, Johan H. AuwerxiD, Śaunak SeniD, Lu LuiD, Robert W. WilliamsiD

PDFDOI

Abstract summary

Claude Opus 5.5 · xhigh effort · 18 Oct 2026 · from the abstract · CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

BXD mouse family doubled to 150 inbred strains segregating over 6 million variants, with roughly 10,000 located recombinations and a public phenome exceeding 7000 traits.

Studying how DNA variants, many phenotypes and environmental factors interact requires a population that different laboratories can re-measure under different treatments. Doubling the BXD family and pairing it with updated genotypes and a large public phenome supplies such a reusable mouse cohort.

Key results

  1. ShownThe BXD family was expanded two-fold to 150 inbred strains, all descended from C57BL/6J and DBA/2J, with updated genotypes.

    More than 6 million variants segregate in the panel, and their mean minor allele frequency is given as close to 0.5. · Abstract

  2. SuggestedLocating about 10,000 recombinations supports quantitative trait locus mapping at stated resolutions of plus or minus 2.0 Mb across much of the genome and plus or minus 0.5 Mb for Mendelian loci.

    Resolution figures are quoted by the authors from the recombination map; no worked mapping example, simulation or validated locus is reported in the text. · Abstract

  3. ShownThe accompanying phenome holds more than 100 omics data sets and over 7000 quantitative and clinical phenotypes, stated to be publicly available.

    Counts given in the abstract; the data types, strains covered per data set and access route are not specified there. · Abstract

Methods, data and reproducibility

Expansion and re-genotyping of the BXD family of inbred mouse strains bred from C57BL/6J and DBA/2J, with recombination breakpoints located across the panel and an accompanying collection of omics and clinical phenotype data sets assembled as a public resource.

  • BXD inbred mouse strains derived from C57BL/6J and DBA/2J, with comprehensive updated genotypes · mouse · n = 150 inbred strains
  • segregating variants across the family, mean minor allele frequency close to 0.5 · mouse · n = over 6 million variants
  • located recombinations underpinning mapping resolution · mouse · n = approximately 10,000
  • BXD phenome: omics data sets plus quantitative and clinical phenotypes · mouse · n = more than 100 omics data sets; over 7000 phenotypes
Reproducibility gaps
The phenome is described as publicly available, but no repository address, database name or accession is printed in the abstract.
Limitations (2)
  • Mapping resolution of plus or minus 2.0 Mb, and 0.5 Mb for Mendelian loci, is asserted from the recombination count without a worked quantitative trait locus analysis or validated example in the available text. · noted in this summary
  • Public availability is claimed with no address or accession given, and the composition of the more than 100 omics data sets (tissues, platforms, strain coverage) is unspecified. · noted in this summary

Read this if you run mouse genetic mapping or gene-by-environment experiments and want a larger reference panel with deep, reusable phenotype data.

Citations
43

Abstract

The challenge of precision medicine is to model complex interactions among DNA variants, sets of phenotypes, and complex environmental factors and confounders. We have expanded the BXD family, creating a powerful and extensible test bed for experimental precision medicine and an ideal cohort to study gene-by-environmental interactions.\n\nThese BXD segregate for over 6 million variants, with a mean minor allele frequency close to 0.5. We have increased the family two-fold to 150 inbred strains, all derived from C57BL/6J and DBA/2J. We have also generated updated and comprehensive genotypes and an unrivaled deep phenome.\n\nApproximately 10,000 recombinations have been located, allowing precision of quantitative trait loci mapping of {+/-}2.0 Mb over much of the genome and {+/-}0.5 Mb for Mendelian loci. The BXD phenome includes more than 100 omics data sets and >7000 quantitative and clinical phenotypes, all of which is publicly available.\n\nThe BXD family is an enduring, collaborative, and replicable resource to test causal and mechanistic links between genomes and phenomes at many stages and under a wide variety of treatments and interventions.

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