The transgenic construct contained a nestin promoter followed by cre recombinase sequence adjoined to a nuclear localization signal. Intron 2 of the nestin gene was included upstream of a polyadenylation signal. While the endogenous nestin promoter is CNS-specific, Southern blot analysis showed the ubiquitous expression of cre in transgenic mice. Variable mosaicism/partial deletion of loxP-flanked alleles occurs before embryonic day 10.5, and it is detectable in all adult organs examined including germ line cells. (J:67926)