Acquisition of Automated DNA Sequencer

购置自动 DNA 测序仪

• 批准号: 9419732
• 负责人: J. William O. Ballard
• 金额: $ 8.08万
• 依托单位: Field Museum of Natural History
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1995
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1995-01-01 至 1996-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9419732&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Acquisition; Automated; DNA; Sequencer

Field Museum requests funds to purchase an automated DNA sequencer, the Applied Biosystems 373A, for its Biochemistry Laboratories, a core facility that provides opportunities for Field Museum staff and students to use gene amplification (PCR) and DNA sequencing in basic research and research training in systematics. Examination of the levels and patterns of Lab use indicate why this instrument is needed. The Biochemistry Laboratories, which are undergoing NSF funded renovation in 1994, are heavily used: 10 curatorial staff and research associates independently have used the facilities, and at six of these research staff are now pursuing or planning major DNA sequencing projects in the near future. The effect of this increasing demand on the facilities and the concomitant establishing of reliable protocols in the preceding steps (DNA extraction, PCR, and amplicon purification), is that sequencing and base calling have now become the primary factors limiting the Labs' productivity. Productivity and cost analyses support the contention that acquisition of the 373A will result in: 1) greater lab productivity; 2) an increase in lab capacity by freeing otherwise dedicated lab space; and 3) a cost savings of about 40% per sequencing reaction. The latter will allow the Labs to recoup purchase costs iTI less than three years at present productivity levels. The Applied Biosystems 373A has several advantages over competing instruments, including: 1) a 4-dye fluorescent-labeling system that enables running up to 4 times as many samples per PAGE gel; and 2) patented dye-labeled dideoxynucleotide terminators that permit use of unlabeled oligonucleotide primers in both ~q cycle sequencing and Sequenase formats. Ability to use unlabeled primers offers an economy and versatility for Field Museum projects, as sequencing is entirely from PCR products amplified from a myriad of plant, fungi, and animal sources. Field Museum has well-developed training pro grams at all levels. Scientific staff have adjunct appointments at neighboring institutions (e.g., U. of Chicago and U. of Illinois, Chicago) and offer graduate training in systematics through these institutions. These students generally use the Labs for their graduate research projects. Finally, the Laboratories are an active participant in Field Museum's summer intern program, which targets high school and undergraduate students, especially those representing minority groups. llhe Labs' capacity will be significantly augmented by the acquisition of this instrument, providing additional opportunities for students to gain research experience in systematics. NSF FORM 135~ (1194) A--1

菲尔德博物馆申请资金为其生物化学实验室购买自动化DNA测序仪--应用生物系统373A，这是一个核心设施，为菲尔德博物馆的工作人员和学生提供在基础研究和系统学研究培训中使用基因扩增(PCR)和DNA测序的机会。对实验室使用水平和模式的检查表明了为什么需要该仪器。美国国家科学基金会资助的生物化学实验室在1994年进行了翻修，目前已经大量使用：有10名策展人员和研究人员独立使用了这些设施，其中6名研究人员正在进行或计划在不久的将来进行重大的DNA测序项目。这种日益增长的需求对设备以及之前步骤(DNA提取、聚合酶链式反应和扩增产物纯化)中伴随而来的可靠协议的建立的影响是，测序和碱基调用现在已经成为限制实验室生产率的主要因素。生产率和成本分析支持这样一种观点，即收购373A将导致：1)更高的实验室生产率；2)通过释放原本专用的实验室空间来增加实验室容量；以及3)每个测序反应节省约40%的成本。后者将允许实验室在目前的生产力水平下，在不到三年的时间内收回购买成本。应用生物系统373A与竞争仪器相比有几个优势，包括：1)4染料荧光标记系统，使每页凝胶可以运行多达4倍的样本；2)专利的染料标记双脱氧核苷酸终止器，允许使用~Q循环测序和序列酶格式的未标记寡核苷酸引物。使用未标记的引物的能力为野外博物馆项目提供了经济和多功能性，因为测序完全来自于从无数植物、真菌和动物来源扩增的PCR产物。菲尔德博物馆拥有完善的各级培训程序。科研人员在邻近的机构(例如芝加哥大学和伊利诺伊大学芝加哥分校)有兼职，并通过这些机构提供系统学方面的研究生培训。这些学生通常使用实验室进行他们的研究生研究项目。最后，这些实验室是菲尔德博物馆暑期实习生计划的积极参与者，该计划针对高中生和本科生，特别是那些代表少数群体的学生。通过收购这台仪器，LLHE实验室的能力将显著增强，为学生提供更多获得系统学研究经验的机会。NSF表格135~(1194)A--1