RUI: Acquisition of Microscopy Equipment for Research and Research Training in Biology

RUI：采购用于生物学研究和研究培训的显微镜设备

• 批准号: 0116743
• 负责人: Curt Peterson
• 金额: $ 23.61万
• 依托单位: University of Northern Colorado
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2001
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2001-09-01 至 2004-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0116743&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Acquisition; Microscopy; Equipment; Research

A grant has been awarded to Drs. Curt M. Peterson, Catherine Gardiner, and John Moore at the University of Northern Colorado to significantly improve the ability of faculty and students in the biological sciences to utilize modern microscopy tools in their research, enhance their opportunities to expand into new research areas, and increase the competitiveness of their research programs for external funding. The grant will be used to purchase ancillary support equipment for a scanning electron microscope (SEM) including a digital image analysis system, a critical point dryer, and a sputter coater. In addition, a confocal microscope and equipment to prepare and observe biological specimens for light and electron microscopy including a tissue processor, an ultramicrotome, and a diamond knife will be acquired. At present, there are active research programs in the department ranging from cellular biology of early embryo development to studies of soil community ecology that will benefit from the availability of this equipment. Five research projects will utilize this microscopy equipment to advance current and projected research efforts. One project will use confocal microscopy and fluorescent dyes to study the three-dimensional distribution of specific cellular compounds that protect cells during early cellular differentiation in developing mouse embryos. This study will increase our understanding of the development of mammalian embryos. A second project will use the ultramicrotome and confocal microscope to record, reconstruct and analyze sectioned tissues of venom glands in rear-fanged snakes in order to elucidate mechanisms allowing for long-term storage and stabilization of venom components. The goal of a third project is to develop a theoretical framework for the dynamics and stability of food webs that couple primary producers, detritus, consumers and nutrients. Accurate identification of invertebrate taxa using SEM and microbial biomass using confocal microscopy will provide more precise identification of food web organisms than is possible with existing techniques. The goal of a fourth study is to use SEM and confocal microscopy to investigate the positional differentiation of the separation layer leading to abscission or dropping of cotton leaves and the shattering or breaking apart of seed heads of native grasses. Both forms of microscopy will permit much clearer imaging of the cellular processes that lead to abscission and shattering. The fifth project will use this microscopy equipment to investigate the embryo anatomy and morphology of Eugenia, a very large and poorly known genus in the plant family Myrtaceae. Embryo anatomy has been shown to be an important source of variation in this genus and will further elucidate the taxonomy of this ecologically widespread genus.The equipment will not only strengthen current and projected research efforts of faculty in the biological sciences and each of the respective research areas but will have a broad impact on undergraduate and graduate research training as well. Many of the questions and problems forming the basis for the five research projects described in this grant can be answered or resolved with this modern microscopy technology. This equipment also will significantly improve access to and increase the use of modern instrumentation and state-of-the-art microscopy applications in the research training and education of both undergraduate and graduate students in biology. Finally, this equipment will have a significant impact on K-12 outreach efforts designed to increase college entrance and graduation rates of minority students traditionally underrepresented in science, mathematics, and technology disciplines.

已向Curt M博士提供赠款。彼得森，凯瑟琳加德纳，和约翰摩尔在北方科罗拉多大学，以显着提高教师和学生在生物科学的能力，利用现代显微镜工具在他们的研究，提高他们的机会，扩展到新的研究领域，并增加他们的研究计划的竞争力外部资金。 这笔赠款将用于购买扫描电子显微镜（SEM）的辅助支持设备，包括数字图像分析系统，临界点干燥机和溅射镀膜机。 此外，还将获得共聚焦显微镜和设备，用于制备和观察光学和电子显微镜用生物标本，包括组织处理器、超薄切片机和金刚石刀。 目前，该部门正在积极开展研究项目，从早期胚胎发育的细胞生物学到土壤群落生态学研究，这些研究将受益于该设备的可用性。 五个研究项目将利用这种显微镜设备来推进当前和预计的研究工作。 其中一个项目将使用共聚焦显微镜和荧光染料来研究特定细胞化合物的三维分布，这些化合物在发育中的小鼠胚胎的早期细胞分化过程中保护细胞。 这项研究将增加我们对哺乳动物胚胎发育的了解。 第二个项目将使用超薄切片机和共聚焦显微镜记录、重建和分析后尖牙蛇毒腺的切片组织，以阐明毒液成分长期储存和稳定的机制。 第三个项目的目标是为将初级生产者、碎屑、消费者和营养物结合在一起的食物网的动态和稳定性制定一个理论框架。 使用扫描电镜和微生物量，使用共聚焦显微镜的无脊椎动物类群的准确识别将提供更精确的识别的食物网生物比现有技术是可能的。 第四项研究的目的是使用SEM和共聚焦显微镜来研究分离层的位置分化，导致棉花叶的脱落或脱落以及原生草的种子头的破碎或破裂。 这两种形式的显微镜将允许更清晰地成像的细胞过程，导致分裂和粉碎。 第五个项目将使用这种显微镜设备来研究Eugenia的胚胎解剖和形态，Eugenia是桃金娘科植物中一个非常大但知之甚少的属。 胚胎解剖已被证明是该属变异的重要来源，并将进一步阐明这个生态广泛分布的属的分类学。该设备不仅将加强生物科学教师和各个研究领域当前和预计的研究工作，而且将对本科生和研究生的研究培训产生广泛影响。 许多问题和问题形成的基础上，在此补助金中描述的五个研究项目可以回答或解决这种现代显微镜技术。 这些设备还将大大改善获得和增加使用现代仪器和最先进的显微镜应用在研究培训和教育的本科生和研究生在生物学。 最后，这些设备将对K-12外联工作产生重大影响，这些工作旨在提高传统上在科学、数学和技术学科中代表性不足的少数民族学生的大学入学率和毕业率。