In association with our mouse Embryonic Stem Cell and Transgenic Core Services facilities, the Molecular Services Core offers designing, construction and preparation of vectors for the generation of genetically engineered mice.  Contact us to discuss your project needs.

The Molecular Biology Core also offers CRISPR gene knock-out services for cell lines and CRISPR KI/KO/CKO in mouse lines.

Our services include but are not limited to:

Genotyping (including genomic DNA preparation)

• PCR screening, genotyping, genotyping protocol
• PCR program trouble shooting and redesigning
• Long Range-PCR (6-7kb)
• Southern blotting assistance

Designing, Construction and Preparation of Transgene Vector

• Plasmid
• BAC

Designing, Construction and Preparation of Gene Targeting Vector

• Conventional knock-out
• Conditional knock-out
• Conditional restoration
• Knock-in (e.g., point mutation, humanization, reporter, ROSA26)
• Conditional expression of transgene from ROSA26 locus

Designing, Construction and Preparation of Artificial Nucleases (ZFN, TALENs, CRISPRs) for Microinjection into Mouse Embryos

• TALENS, ZFN (ROSA)
• CRISPR/Cas9
• Designing and construction of donor DNA (plasmid, BAC)
• CRISPR generated Gene knock-out in mouse embryos
• Targeted insertion of short DNA in mouse embryos
• Designed modification of short genomic sequence in mouse embryos

Custom Somatic Cell CRISPR Gene Knock-out ~$5,000.00 ~3 months timeline
Since 2016 we have succeeded in knocking out 13 different genes from 16 different cell lines for seven different researchers located at the University of Calgary and University of Alberta.

• Design, construction and preparation of CRISPR/Cas9
• Transfection of cells with CRISPR/Cas9
• Cell analysis: population and individual clones
• Isolation of knock-out cell lines
• Western confirmation of KO
• Sequence confirmation of mutation

For researchers who may not have the necessary molecular biology background, the opening of our Molecular Biology Core Facility at the CCCMG makes the generation of novel mouse models accessible to everyone.

Contact us:

Ken Ito  -  kito@ucalgary.ca (genotyping, mouse related molecular services)

Yaping Yu  -  yuy@ucalgary.ca (custom somatic cell CRISPR knock-out services)

General questions at transgen@ucalgary.ca