Investigative Instructional Improvements in Molecular Biology and Organellar DNA Analysis

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The aim of this project is to advance student training and experience in investigative molecular biology. Specifically, the requested equipment, consisting of a high speed centrifuge and rotors, thermocycler, electroporator, nucleotide sequencing and agarose gel electrophoresis equipment and related accessories, will support a new research-intensive advanced investigative molecular biology course in which students will characterize algal mitochondrial and chloroplast genome architecture and gene structure. The proposed equipment will be used to increase the sophistication of strategies used for nucleic acid analysis including the isolation of purified organellar DNA, DNA library construction, genome mapping, and nucleotide sequence analysis of selected genes. Fundamental principles of DNA structure and function and basic techniques are presented in existing intorductory courses. Investigative Molecular Biology will offer opportunities that (1) provide for advanced study of DNA organization and function; (2) serve as an avenue for student participation in investigative research; and (3) for biology majors, function to train and focus those students who anticipate entering into molecular biology related honors research projects.