C57BL/6J is the most widely used inbred strain and the first to have its genome sequenced.

They are commonly used in the production of transgenic mice.

They breed well, are long-lived, and have a low susceptibility to tumours.

Although this strain is refractory to many tumours, it is a permissive background for maximal expression of most mutations.

C57BL/6J mice are used in a wide variety of research areas including cardiovascular biology, developmental biology, diabetes and obesity, genetics, immunology, neurobiology, and sensorineural research.

This mice strain is resistant to audiogenic seizures, have a relatively low bone density, and develop age related hearing loss. They are also susceptible to diet-induced obesity, type 2 diabetes, and atherosclerosis.

Macrophages from this strain are resistant to the effects of anthrax lethal toxin.