In the history of biology no organism has contributed more to our initial understanding of normal and abnormal physiology, developmental biology and cellular biology than has the frog. Dating from the early 1930s, only the mouse has challenged the position of the frog. In recent years contributions using frogs have been seriously impeded because of the lack of genetically defined strains. Such frogs are badly needed for the transfer of focus of molecular biology and genetic engineering from microbes and plants to higher vertebrates. Such strains of frogs are now available on only a very limited basis, and among these strains none carry visible phenotypic markers, thus rendering difficult their use in many laboratories. While available strains can now be commercially produced, strains carrying visible markers will have much greater use. Two questions are asked whose answers are the objectives of the Phase I research: (1) Are the color, color pattern and morphological varients now in our Xenopus laevis colony, or available to us, under genetic control? (2) If so, are the genetic mechanisms which control them of a type suitable for use as markers of genetically defined lines of animals'? Techniques of gynogenesis, first cleavage inhibition, and endoreduplication as well as biparental mating will be used.The potential commercial application as described by the awardee: Based on the history of frog use in research and teaching and on the demand for genetically defined mice, it is expected that visibly marked, genetically defined strains of frogs will experience as great a commercial demand as have mice. Such strains will have great importance in the application of genetic engineering to higher vertebrates. Amphibian BioTech, Inc., is an R&D firm and amphibian wholesaler specializing in research quality amphibians.
