What is the mouse’s father called?

What is the mouse’s father called? - briefly

The male parent of a mouse is called a buck.

What is the mouse’s father called? - in detail

The paternal designation for a mouse in breeding and scientific literature is «sire». The term refers specifically to the male parent that contributes sperm to the offspring. In laboratory contexts, the sire is recorded on breeding logs to track genetic inheritance and experimental variables.

Key aspects of the sire’s role:

  • Genetic contribution: provides half of the offspring’s genome, influencing traits such as coat color, behavior, and disease susceptibility.
  • Breeding selection: researchers choose sires based on genotype, phenotype, and health status to achieve desired experimental outcomes.
  • Record‑keeping: identification numbers, strain information, and pedigree data are associated with each sire to maintain colony integrity.

Alternative informal expressions include «dad» or «father», but these lack the precise connotation used in scientific documentation. The word «sire» originates from Old French «sire», derived from Latin «senior», meaning “elder”. Its usage in animal breeding predates modern genetics and remains standard in rodent colonies worldwide.