Acquisition of Instrumentation for an Ecological Genomics Laboratory to Support Research and Training

在Shane K博士的指导下，黑山州立大学（BHSU）获得了一笔赠款。Sarver将建立生态基因组学实验室。该实验室将为BHSU的教师和学生在新兴的基因组学领域提供跨学科的研究机会。两个最新的进展，实时PCR和DNA微阵列技术正在打破传统的界限分离的子学科在生物学（即生理学，生态学，遗传学等）。并在生物学研究中引入综合方法。 实时PCR是一种功能强大的新技术，具有多种应用，从基因分型和基因表达的定量分析，到蛋白质检测和定量。 微阵列技术整合了基因和表型之间的关系，并允许研究人员在多种情况下同时检查基因组。真实的时间PCR与微阵列技术相结合提供了无与伦比的机会，将基因组学整合到生物学研究的其他领域。将使用真实的时间PCR对野牛PrP基因型进行基因分型并筛选异质海象。利用基因芯片技术检测南芥属植物防御基因在不同生态条件下的表达。 凝胶电泳系统将允许在用于实时PCR的内部探针不可用或不切实际时区分等位基因;以及分光光度计，其将允许快速且容易地确定样品中的核酸浓度、纯度和完整性。 新的生态基因组学实验室将用于支持一个新的本科生课程，名为生态基因组学。黑山州立大学主要是一个EPSCoR州的本科院校。 近75%的BHSU生物学专业的学生来自科学领域代表性不足的群体。 这一百分比主要包括妇女，但也包括几个非白人族裔群体，其中美洲原住民所占比例最大。 南达科他州有六个印第安人保留地。在过去的四年里，BHSU科学系配备了分子遗传学实验室，支持保护遗传学，分子系统学，分子生态学和基础遗传学研究领域的研究，主要使用基因分型和基因测序（NSF提案#9977226）。 该设施最近被指定为西南达科他州DNA核心设施（WSDDCF），不仅服务于大学的研究需求，还服务于其他公共和私人组织，如南达科他州野味鱼公园和区域私人牧场主。 该设施还作为遗传学，细胞生物学，微生物学本科生的培训中心，以及在分子遗传学各个领域进行独立研究项目的学生。 在过去的三年里，三名新的生物学教员（分子遗传学家，分子生态学家和功能进化生态学家）被雇用，他们的研究受益于WSDDCF的能力。WSDDCF和新的生态基因组学实验室将相互补充，并为跨学科研究和合作提供机会。

A grant has been awarded to Black Hills State University (BHSU) under the direction of Dr. Shane K. Sarver to establish an Ecological Genomics Laboratory. This laboratory will offer cross-disciplinary research opportunities to faculty and students at BHSU in the emerging field of genomics. Two of the most recent advances, real-time PCR and DNA microarray techniques are breaking down the traditional boundaries separating the sub-disciplines in biology (i.e. physiology, ecology, genetics etc.) and compelling an integrated approach in biological research. Real-time PCR is a powerful new technique with a variety of applications, ranging from genotyping and quantitative analysis of gene expression, to protein detection and quantification. Microarray technology integrates the relationship between the gene and the phenotype and allows the researcher to examine groups of genes simultaneously in multiple contexts. Real time PCR combined with microarray techniques provide unparalleled opportunities to integrate genomics into other areas of biological research. Real time PCR will be used to genotype bison PrP genotypes and to screen for heterplasmic walleye. Microarrays will be used to examine expression of plant defense genes in Arabis under different ecological conditions. A gel electrophoresis system will allow differentiation of alleles when internal probes for real-time PCR are not available, or are impractical; and a spectrophotometer that would allow quick and easy determination of nucleic acid concentration, purity and integrity in a sample. The new Ecological Genomics Laboratory will be used to support a new undergraduate course titled Ecological Genomics.Black Hills State University is mainly an undergraduate institution in an EPSCoR state. Nearly 75% of the biology majors at BHSU are from groups that are underrepresented in the sciences. This percentage mainly includes women, but also several non-white ethnic groups of which Native Americans are the greatest proportion. There are six Indian Reservations in the state of South Dakota. Over the past four years the Department of Science at BHSU has equipped a molecular genetics laboratory that supports research in the areas of conservation genetics, molecular systematics, molecular ecology and basic genetic research primarily using genotyping and gene sequencing (NSF proposal #9977226). This facility was recently designated as the Western South Dakota DNA Core Facility (WSDDCF), serving not only university research needs, but also other public and private organizations, such as South Dakota Game Fish & Parks and regional private ranchers. This facility has also served as a training center for undergraduate students in genetics, cell biology, microbiology, and for those students conducting independent research projects in various areas of molecular genetics. Three new biology faculty members (a molecular geneticist, a molecular ecologist and a functional evolutionary ecologist) have been hired in the last three years whose research benefits from the capabilities of the WSDDCF. The WSDDCF and the new Ecological Genomics Laboratory will complement one another and provide opportunities for cross-disciplinary research and collaboration.