This book provides both historical perspective and practical information to support researchers either currently involved in genomic research on rats or planning to begin such a project.  In numerous chapters, a detailed protocol is provided for researchers looking to move into a new area of investigation or to leverage a new technology.  In other cases, a detailed review of existing models or a description of available resources can help the researcher find, understand, and utilize the information, the data, and the tools that they need to support their research efforts. Written as part of the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, this collection includes the kind of hands-on detail necessary for success in the lab.