The use of mice in laboratories started In the 17th century, when biology per " was transformed from a classical science to an experimental science. William Harvey (1578-1657) was the first to use mice - In 1616 - to elaborate on the blood circulation and reproductive systems In mammals.

In the 18th century. when trade between Europe and the Orient began, western businesspersons took a fancy to them creatures and domesticated them. From Europe, these pet mice reached the US. Later, mixing and Interbreeding of local strains of mice led to development of Innumerable variants, of which those with rare coat colours were highly valued. Mouse-lovers from Europe and the US had by this time, become aware of mutant traits in the animal, such as albinism or dominant and recessive spotting. The proliferation of the so-called white English sables - creamy buff variety of mice - on either side of the Atlantic, led to the development of the house mouse as an important laboratory source.

There were three reasons for the increased use of mice at the end of the 19th century. Firstly, emphasis was given to laboratory studies using small animals as Investigative tools; secondly, the American system of teaching biology required these animals; finally, the rediscovery of Mendel's laws of heredity in 1900 also necessitated their use.

In 1901, William E Castle In Maine, US, adopted the Mus musculus for conducting studies in experimental evolution, which was later named genetics by England's W Bateson. The need for highly Inbred mice strains for cancer research in the US led to the establishment of the first laboratory which specialised in breeding mice - the Jackson Laboratory at Cold Spring Harbour, Maine. it remains the largest supplier of Inbred mice to Institutes and researchers all over the world. The only other laboratory supplying well-defined strains of mice today is situated at the National Institutes of Health at Bethesda, US.