Acquisition of a Genetic Analyzer for Analysis of Phylogenetic Relationships and Populations Genetics.

阿卡迪亚大学(前海狸学院)的艾伦、布沙尔和赫恩博士获得了一笔赠款，用于对属于动植物王国的选定生物进行DNA序列分析。艾伦博士将分析豌豆科植物物种之间的进化关系，以更好地了解它们在特定地中海环境中的起源和多样性。这项研究将需要对自动DNA测序仪产生的DNA序列进行分析，并将导致构建约150个物种的分子系统学(基于DNA的家谱树)，其中一些物种在农业上具有重要意义。布沙尔博士将进行DNA序列和微卫星(重复DNA序列)研究，以了解影响北美响尾蛇结构、变异和长期生存的因素。赫恩博士将利用DNA序列信息来加强她在西非赤道几内亚比奥科岛上大型森林哺乳动物和筑巢的海龟的保护管理和进化关系方面的工作。这项研究使用的方法包括：从不同的研究生物(植物、蛇、哺乳动物)中分离基因组DNA；识别核、叶绿体和线粒体DNA中的目标基因区；以及使用遗传分析仪(DNA测序仪)生成DNA序列信息。在植物研究中，DNA序列信息将被用于生成基于分子的系统发育图，并与基于计算机的算法相结合。这些数据将涉及不同地中海地区特有植物的起源和多样性问题，包括北美西部、智利、地中海、澳大利亚西部和南非。在响尾蛇中，DNA序列信息和微卫星基因座都将被应用于空间上孤立的北美物种的遗传比较。这些数据将提供关于蛇种群内部和种群之间遗传结构的有价值的信息。大型森林哺乳动物之间的关系将使用DNA序列数据与基于计算机的系统发育分析相结合进行分析。这些数据将有助于比奥科岛大型森林哺乳动物和筑巢海龟的保护管理。这些DNA序列研究的主要目的是加强阿卡迪亚大学的生物学本科教育。DNA序列技术正在迅速成为解决广泛的生物学问题的首选方法。新药的开发、强毒流感病毒的鉴定、艾滋病病毒的研究、人类基因组计划以及生物多样性的保护管理，只是使用DNA序列技术进行研究的几个例子。通过将DNA序列方法融入植物生物学、高级遗传学和分子生物学课程，学生将了解DNA技术在各种生物学问题上的广泛应用。学生将接受DNA序列数据的理论和应用分析方面的培训。另一个目标是向其他小型文理学院的教职员工和高中教师提供先进实验室技术课程。归根结底，这个研究计划构成了一个强大的启发式工具，用于教育和培训下一代年轻科学家和教师。该计划通过培训学生直接造福于公众，这些学生将在直接影响人类社会的问题上进行教学和研究。

A grant has been awarded to Drs. Allan, Bushar and Hearn at Arcadia University (formerly Beaver College) to conduct DNA sequence analyses of select organisms belonging to the Plant and Animal kingdoms. Dr. Allan will analyze evolutionary relationships among plant species in the Pea Family to better understand their origin and diversification in specific mediterranean environments. The study will entail analysis of DNA sequences generated by an automated DNA sequencer, and will result in the construction of a molecular phylogeny (DNA-based family tree) for approximately 150 species, some of which are agriculturally important. Dr. Bushar will conduct DNA sequence and microsatellite (tandemly repeated DNA sequences) studies to understand factors that impact the structure, variation and long-term viability of North American rattlesnakes. Dr. Hearn will use DNA sequence information to augment her work on the conservation management and evolutionary relationships of large forest mammals and nesting marine turtles on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea, West Africa.Methods used in this research include: the isolation of genomic DNA from different study organisms (plants, snakes, mammals); identification of target gene regions in nuclear, chloroplast and mitochondrial DNA; and the generation of DNA sequence information using a Genetic Analyzer (DNA sequencer). In the plant study, DNA sequence information will be used to generate molecular-based phylogenies, in conjunction with computer-based algorithms. These data will address questions relating to the origin and diversification of plants endemic to different mediterranean regions including western North America, Chile, the Mediterranean, western Australia and South Africa. In rattlesnakes, both DNA sequence information and microsatellite loci will be applied to genetic comparisons of spatially isolated North American species. These data will provide valuable information on the genetic structure both within and between snake populations. Relationships among large forest mammals will be analyzed using DNA sequence data in conjunction with computer-based phylogenetic analyses. These data will contribute to the conservation management of large forest mammals and nesting marine turtles on Bioko Island.The primary purpose of these DNA sequence studies is to enhance undergraduate education in biology at Arcadia University. DNA sequence technology is rapidly becoming the method of choice for a broad spectrum of biological-based questions. The development of new pharmaceutical drugs, the identification of virulent flu viruses, research on the AIDS virus, the human genome project and conservation management of biodiversity are just a few examples of studies that use DNA sequence technology. By incorporating DNA sequence methods into plant biology, advanced genetics and molecular biology courses, students will gain an understanding of the wide application DNA technology has to diverse biological questions. Students will be trained both in theoretical and applied analyses of DNA sequence data. An additional goal is to offer courses in advanced laboratory techniques to faculty from other small liberal arts colleges and to high school teachers. Ultimately, this research program constitutes a powerful heuristic tool for educating and training the next generation of young scientists and teachers. This program has a direct benefit to the public by training students who will teach and conduct research on problems that directly impact human society.