RUI: Undergraduate Research in the Molecular Diversity of Hot Spring Bacteria

Sarah M.博士西俄勒冈州大学的布默正在怀俄明州的黄石国家公园建立一个“红层”微生物观测站（RLMO）。 这个观测站将使本科生能够研究在碱性温泉中茁壮成长的几个类似的细菌群落（“垫”）。 这个天文台的所有垫子都含有一层不寻常的红色细菌，通常在已知的绿色细菌（蓝细菌）的顶层下面。 初步数据表明，这些红色细菌中有一些是独特的，但与一种名为Heliothrix的已知古代细菌有关。 迄今为止，已经确定了十几个不同的红色层垫。 这项研究的一个关键目标是调查黄石公园的其他地区在一个广泛的夏季本科生研究计划建立了这个补助金。 在公园里，研究小组将使用各种技术（全球定位系统、pH和温度测量设备以及数码相机）调查和记录新的RLMO栖息地。 在这些旅行之后的实验室中，本科生将使用显微镜，红色素的生化分析和DNA序列信息来进一步表征这些新细菌。 RLMO材料也将被用作Boomer博士的研究型本科课程分子生物学的骨干项目。 在这两种情况下，本科生将从各种细菌样本中分离出特定的识别基因（16 S核糖体RNA基因），并使用通过先前NSF支持获得的自动DNA测序仪确定这些基因的DNA序列。 使用计算机程序和基于互联网的数据库，学生将使用序列信息来推断红层细菌如何在RLMO内从一个站点到另一个站点进行比较，以及它们如何与其他已知细菌进行比较。 原始序列数据也将为计算生物学的新本科课程提供原始数据。 许多生物学专业在西俄勒冈州大学是注定的职业生涯教学科学;因此，研究生特别感兴趣的教育将有方法，材料和基于信用的机会，开发和提供教育推广模块和网络分发的课程作为这个黄石RLMO的一部分。

Dr. Sarah M. Boomer at Western Oregon University is establishing a "Red Layer" Microbial Observatory (RLMO) in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. This observatory will enable undergraduate students to study several similar bacterial communities ("mats") that thrive in alkaline hot springs. All mats in this observatory contain an unusual red layer of yet-unidentified bacteria, usually beneath top layers of known green bacteria (Cyanobacteria). Preliminary data has demonstrated that some of these red bacteria are unique but related to a known genus of ancient bacteria called Heliothrix. A dozen distinct red layer mats have been identified to date. A key goal of this research is to survey additional regions of Yellowstone during an extensive summer undergraduate research program established by this grant. While in the park, research teams will survey and document new RLMO habitats using a variety of technologies (global positioning systems, pH and temperature measuring devices and digital cameras). In the laboratory following these trips, undergraduates will use microscopy, biochemical analysis of red pigments, and DNA sequence information to further characterize these novel bacteria. RLMO materials will also be used as the backbone project in Dr. Boomer's research-based undergraduate course, Molecular Biology. In both contexts, undergraduates will isolate a specific identification gene (16S ribosomal RNA gene) from various bacterial samples, and determine the DNA sequences of these genes using an automated DNA sequencer acquired through prior NSF support. Using computer programs and internet-based databases, students will use sequence information to infer how red layer bacteria compare from site to site within the RLMO and how they compare with other known bacteria. Original sequence data will also provide raw data for a new undergraduate course in computational biology. Many biology majors at Western Oregon University are bound for careers teaching science; thus, research students specifically interested in education will have methods, materials, and credit-based opportunities to develop and deliver education outreach modules and web-distributed curricula as part of this Yellowstone RLMO.