Renovation of Biochemistry Laboratories

这笔资金将用于翻新菲尔德自然历史博物馆的生物化学实验室。菲尔德博物馆的生物化学实验室成立于1974年，是第一个设在主要历史博物馆的此类设施。这些实验室是一个多用户核心设施，主要作为策展人员和从事分子系统学基础研究的研究生的研究和培训设施。该设施提供的原创技术，淀粉凝胶蛋白电泳，产生了有益的生化特征数据，用于对密切相关的物种和属进行系统学分析，并仍然是生物地理学研究和种群水平研究的一项有价值和经济的技术。随着聚合酶链式反应和DNA测序技术的出现，作为系统学家的基本工具，对这些设施的使用需求增加了。除了翻新实验室空间外，翻新还将包括更换不适当的橱柜，修改电气和管道系统，以及安装有效的通风和空调系统。现代化的设施将使研究人员能够引入新技术，改进和维护聚合酶链式反应和DNA测序技术，并提供蛋白质电泳的能力。生物化学实验室的研究能力将通过扩大菲尔德博物馆和芝加哥的系统学研究社区的机会而增加。

This award will provide funding for the renovation of the biochemistry laboratories at the Field Museum of Natural History. Established in 1974, the Field Museum's biochemistry laboratories were the first facilities of its kind to be located at a major history museum. The laboratories, a multi-user core facility, serve primarily as a research and training facility for curatorial staff and graduate students conducting basic research in molecular systematics. The original technology offered by the facility, starch gel protein electrophoresis, generated beneficial biochemical character data for phylogentic analyses of closely related species and genera and remains as a valuable and economical technique for biogeography research and population level studies. With the emergence of polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing technologies, essential tools for systematists, the demand for the use of the facilities has increased. In addition to refurbishing laboratory space, renovations will include replacing inadequate casework, modifying electrical and plumbing systems, and installing an effective ventilation and air conditioning system. The modernized facilities will enable researchers to introduce new techniques, refine and maintain polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing technologies, and provide the capabilities for protein electrophoresis. The research capacity of the biochemistry laboratories will increase by expanding opportunities for the Field Museum and Chicago's systematics research communities.