CRUI: Molecular Genetics & Biochemistry to Study Evolutionary, Ecological & Behavioral Interactions Between Birds & Feather-Degrading Bacteria & Environmental Appli

CRUI：分子遗传学

• 批准号: 9978805
• 负责人: Edward Burtt, Jr.
• 金额: $ 79.93万
• 依托单位: Ohio Wesleyan University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 1999
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1999-10-01 至 2003-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9978805&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CRUI; Molecular; Genetics; & Biochemistry

Ohio Wesleyan faculty and students will study the microbial ecosystem within avian plumage emphasizing those bacteria that degrade feather keratin. Molecular genetics will be used to study the control of the degradation process and biochemistry to study structural adaptations of the enzyme that cleaves the keratin molecule. Microbiologically will study how the diverse microorganisms within the plumage interact with feather-degrading bacteria. Lastly, the faculty and students will study how birds regulate this complex, microbial ecosystem that threatens their feathers and their survival. The interrelated biochemical, molecular, genetic, microbial, ecological, and evolutionary questions necessitate multidisciplinary approach.Knowledge of the natural history of feather-degrading bacteria and their avian hosts, the genetic control of enzyme synthesis, and the biochemistry of degradation will enable the suggestion of environmentally safe methods of recovering small proteins and amino acids from waste feathers and efficient composting of dead poultry.Seventy-two undergraduates, including 37 freshmen, have designed, completed, and reported their own research as partner in the current project. Each summer eight students will be offered research fellowships and one research associate position for a secondary science teacher. There will be an offer of four academic-year mentorships annually, which will build a commitment to research as student teaches student.

俄亥俄州卫斯理学院的教师和学生将研究鸟类羽毛内的微生物生态系统，重点是降解羽毛角蛋白的细菌。 分子遗传学将用于研究降解过程的控制，生物化学将用于研究切割角蛋白分子的酶的结构适应。 微生物学将研究羽毛中的各种微生物如何与羽毛降解细菌相互作用。 最后，教师和学生将研究鸟类如何调节这种复杂的微生物生态系统，威胁到他们的羽毛和生存。 相互关联的生物化学，分子，遗传，微生物，生态和进化问题需要多学科的方法。羽毛降解细菌及其鸟类宿主的自然历史，酶合成的遗传控制，降解的生物化学将使人们能够提出环境安全的方法，从废羽毛中回收小分子蛋白质和氨基酸，并有效地将死家禽堆肥。两名本科生，包括37名大一新生，在目前的项目中作为合作伙伴设计，完成并报告了他们自己的研究。 每年夏天，将为八名学生提供研究奖学金和一名中学科学教师的研究助理职位。 每年将提供四个学年的导师，这将建立一个致力于研究的学生教学生。