Acquisition of Multiple Instruments for Genomics-related Research and Education

康涅狄格大学在Linda Strausbaugh博士的指导下获得了一笔赠款，用于购买与基因组学相关的研究和教育的多种仪器。近年来，随着科学界开发出先进的方法对人类和其他模式生物的基因组进行测序和分析，遗传学研究取得了里程碑式的进展。这些集体成就预示着与基因组学相关的研究和培训进入一个新时代，为新的研究途径提供了无与伦比的机会。该项目的目标是将基因组计划范例传输到广泛的重要研究主题和生物体的研究中，并在基因组学研究的理论和实践方面培训各级学生。在该项目中获得的工具将提供实现这些目标所需的框架。需要解决的具体研究问题属于当前跨学科研究优势的三个领域，以及一个建立在这三个基础上的新兴领域。来自遗传学和动物科学的科学家将解决染色体中的问题和表达机制，重点是基因组的结构特征如何在发育、衰老和基因组变化的背景下影响表达。来自微生物学、工程学和植物科学的科学家将利用基因组信息和基因工程进行环境生物技术研究，以研究微生物与其环境之间的复杂相互作用。进化生物学、分子生物学、土木工程和计算机科学的研究人员将进行分子进化和比较基因组学的研究项目，以更好地了解伴随着生物适应和进化史的分子变化。在一个新兴的、高度交叉的领域，来自这三个研究领域的科学家将与法医科学家联手，通过基因组学和新技术的创新应用来推进DNA分型研究。该项目在研究和培训方面取得的与基因组学有关的成就在许多层面上都具有重要意义。在最基本的层面上，将获得许多植物、动物和微生物遗传蓝图中相对鲜为人知的组成部分的结构、功能和表达的知识。这些知识将被应用于当代社会面临的几个紧迫问题，例如：需要了解生命系统对环境或基因压力和衰老的反应；对受污染地点的补救要求；以及扩大植物可持续生长的环境条件范围的必要性。与其在研究中的作用同样重要的是，该项目也是本科生、两个新的创新的基因组学和微生物学专业硕士课程的学生以及博士生研究密集型学习环境的关键部分。与更实际的应用相联系，应该会吸引来自不同人群的学生。该项目可能提供的先进、最先进的培训将有助于满足从制药到农业再到法医等多种与基因组学相关的应用所需的高技能劳动力的需求。

A grant has been awarded to the University of Connecticut under the direction of Dr. Linda Strausbaugh to acquire multiple instruments for genomics-related research and education.Recent years have witnessed milestones in genetics research as the scientific community has developed advanced methods for the sequencing and analysis of the genomes of humans and other model organisms. These collective accomplishments herald a new era in genomics-related research and training, providing unparalleled opportunities for new avenues of investigation. It is the goal of this project to transport genome project paradigms to the study of a wide range of important research topics and organisms, and to train students at all levels in the theory and practice of genomics research. The instruments acquired in this project will provide the framework necessary to accomplish these goals. Specific research problems to be addressed fall into three current areas of interdisciplinary research strengths and one newly emerging area that builds upon these three foundations. Scientists from Genetics and Animal Sciences will address problems in Chromosomes and Mechanisms of Expression that focus upon how structural features of the genome influence expression in the context of development, aging, and genome changes. Scientists from Microbiology, Engineering and Plant Science will conduct research in Environmental Biotechnology by using genomic information and genetic engineering to study the complex interactions between microorganisms and their environments. Researchers in Evolutionary Biology, Molecular Biology, Civil Engineering and Computer Science will conduct research projects in Molecular Evolution and Comparative Genomics to better understand the molecular changes that accompany adaptation and evolutionary histories of organisms. In an emerging, highly interdisciplinary area, scientists from these three areas of research will join forces with Forensic Scientists to advance DNA typing research by innovative applications of genomics and new technology. The genomics-related accomplishments in research and training made possible by this project have significance on many levels. At the most basic level, knowledge of the structure, function and expression of relatively poorly understood components of the genetic blue prints of many plants, animals, and microorganisms will be gained. This knowledge will be applied to several pressing problems facing contemporary society, such as: the need to understand the responses of living systems to environmental or genomic stress and aging; the requirements for remediation of contaminated sites; and the necessity of expanding the spectrum of environmental conditions under which plant growth may be sustained. Equally important to its role in research, this project is also a key part of a research-intensive learning environment for undergraduates, students in two new and innovative professional master's programs in genomics and microbiology, and doctoral candidates. Ties to more practical applications should attract students from diverse populations. The advanced, state-of-the-art training possible under this project will help meet the demands for a highly skilled workforce required in a multitude of genomics-related applications from pharmaceuticals to agriculture to forensics.