Acquisition of a Digital Image Documentation Station and a High Speed Refrigerated Centrifuge for Core Molecular Biology Lab

摘要NSF提案编号0116080 巴里大学的Petrino博士获得了一笔赠款，用于为核心分子生物学实验室购买一个数字图像文件站和一个高速冷藏库。 该提案的科学目标是使用两种成熟的神经内分泌模型系统：Killifish（Fundulus heteroclitus）和斑马鱼（Danio rerio）来理解卵母细胞分化和胚胎发育的基本分子机制。 使用鳉鱼的项目重点是了解脑垂体和卵巢在控制周期性生殖方面的关系。 斑马鱼项目的长期目标是评估基因在胚胎发育中的作用。 该项目的第一部分将涉及基因克隆技术，其中高速冷藏冰箱至关重要。 一旦感兴趣的基因被克隆，它们将被用于各种分子程序，以确定这些基因在卵子和早期胚胎发育过程中的空间和时间表达，数字图像文件系统将用于分析结果。这项研究的结果不仅可以为理解基本的生殖过程提供新的见解，而且还有望进一步阐明早期胚胎发育中基因表达的调控。 此外，由于这些基因中的一些基因的丢失与各种癌症有关，因此预计这些结果将导致进一步的研究，可能有助于了解癌症发展中的机制。 除了拟议的研究外，所要求的仪器将用于夏季研究培训活动，举办讲习班，为来自迈阿密戴德县和布劳沃德县的少数民族大学生、高中理科学生和高中理科教师提供“动手”经验。 高中教师学到的一些技术随后被纳入课程，从而使更多的高中学生接触现代生物技术。 这些设备也将提供给新的教师，包括代表性不足的女教师，谁目前正在建立自己的研究。 因此，这两件设备将大大提高这个少数民族机构的能力，为教师和多样化的学生提供最新的研究/学习环境。

ABSTRACTNSF Proposal # 0116080 A grant has been awarded to Dr. Petrino at Barry University to acquire a Digital Image Documentation Station and a High-Speed Refrigerated Centrifuge for the Core Molecular Biology Laboratory. The scientific objective of this proposal is to comprehend the basic molecular mechanisms underlying oocyte differentiation and embryonic development using two well-established neuroendocrine model systems: the killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) and the zebrafish (Danio rerio). The project using the killifish focuses on understanding the relationship between the pituitary gland and the ovary in controlling cyclic reproduction. The long-term goal of the zebrafish project is to evaluate the role of genes involved in embryonic development. The first part of the project will involve gene cloning techniques for which the High-Speed Refrigerated Centrifuge is crucial. Once the genes of interest are cloned, they will be used in a variety of molecular procedures in order to determine the spatial and temporal expression of these genes during egg and early embryo development, for which the Digital Image Documentation System will be used to analyze the results. Results from this study may provide new insights for understanding not only the basic reproductive process but are also expected to further clarify the regulation of gene expression in early embryonic development. Furthermore, since the loss of some of these genes has been linked to various cancers, the results are expected to lead to further studies that may help in understanding mechanisms involved in the development of cancer. In addition to the proposed research, the instruments requested will be used for summer research training activities through workshops providing "hands-on" experience to minority undergraduates, high school science students and high school science teachers from Miami Dade and Broward counties. Some of the techniques learned by high school teachers are then incorporated into the curriculum thus exposing more high school students to modern biotechnology techniques. These equipments will also be available to new faculty members, including underrepresented female faculty, who are currently establishing their own research. Therefore, these two pieces of equipment will very much enhance the ability of this minority institution to provide an up to date research/learning environment for both, faculty and its diverse student body.