MRI/RUI:Acquisition of Instrumentation for an Undergraduate Research Program in Biotechnology

MRI/RUI：为生物技术本科研究项目购置仪器

• 批准号: 0320854
• 负责人: Marilyn Cruz-Alvarez
• 金额: $ 10.87万
• 依托单位: Florida Gulf Coast University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2003
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2003-08-15 至 2006-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0320854&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: MRI; RUI; Acquisition; Instrumentation; Undergraduate

A grant has been awarded to Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) under the direction of Dr. Marilyn Cruz-Alvarez and Dr. Takashi Ueda for the acquisition of equipment for an undergraduate research program in Biotechnology. The equipment includes environmental chambers for growth of plants and plant cultures under controlled conditions. Availability of this equipment is essential both for faculty research in Biotechnology as well as for training of undergraduate students in the program. By enhancing the infrastructure of the new Biotechnology program it will aid in the recruitment of high quality faculty and students at FGCU.Purchase of the equipment will facilitate current research on basic aspects of plant development. In particular the equipment will be immediately used for two federally funded projects involving the analyses of the structure and function of two plant genes. One is a novel cauliflower (Brassica oleracea) gene that may be involved in cauliflower curd formation. The other is a buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) gene encoding an antioxidant enzyme found in a wide range of organisms, from bacteria to humans. The equipment will be shared by current and future faculty in the program and therefore it will have an impact on additional research projects. The equipment will also be extensively used for educational purposes. The curriculum of the Biotechnology program at FGCU emphasizes hands-on training and extensive participation of undergraduates in faculty research. Students will benefit from the equipment by using it in the laboratory components of courses such as Molecular Genetics, Methods in Biotechnology, Cell Biology, Plant Physiology, Plant Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Developmental Genetics, as well as for independent research conducted under individual faculty supervision. Availability of the equipment may have a broader significance considering the potential biotechnological applications of the research for which it will be used. Characterization of the plant genes mentioned above, for example, may lead to a better understanding of the development of edible parts in cultivated varieties of Brassica oleracea, such as cauliflower, broccoli or Brussels sprouts, or of the processes of plant seed desiccation and germination. Future applications of this research may include manipulation of the formation of the edible parts in vegetable crops and generation of drought-resistant crops. In addition, the availability of the equipment will enhance research opportunities for students at FGCU and it will aid in better preparing them for graduate studies or jobs in the biotechnology industry. A strong research program and generation of a well-prepared workforce are expected to make the Biotechnology program a center for attracting biotechnology companies to Southwest Florida leading to economic growth and further development of the region.

在Marilyn Cruz-Alvarez博士和Takashi Ueda博士的指导下，佛罗里达墨西哥湾沿岸大学(FGCU)获得了一笔赠款，用于购买生物技术本科生研究项目所需的设备。该设备包括用于在受控条件下生长植物和植物培养的环境室。这种设备的可获得性对于生物技术教师的研究以及对该项目本科生的培训都是必不可少的。通过加强新生物技术项目的基础设施，它将有助于FGCU招聘高质量的教职员工和学生。购买这些设备将促进目前对植物发育基本方面的研究。特别是，这些设备将立即用于联邦资助的两个项目，这些项目涉及分析两个植物基因的结构和功能。一个是花椰菜(甘蓝)的新基因，可能与花椰菜花球的形成有关。另一种是荞麦(Fagopyrum Esculentum)基因，编码一种抗氧化酶，存在于从细菌到人类的各种生物中。这些设备将由该项目中现有和未来的教职员工共享，因此它将对其他研究项目产生影响。这些设备还将广泛用于教育目的。FGCU生物技术项目的课程强调实践培训和本科生广泛参与教师研究。学生将受益于分子遗传学、生物技术方法、细胞生物学、植物生理学、植物分子遗传学、生物化学和发育遗传学等课程的实验室组成部分，以及在教师个人监督下进行的独立研究。考虑到设备将用于研究的潜在生物技术应用，设备的可获得性可能具有更广泛的意义。例如，对上述植物基因的表征可能有助于更好地了解甘蓝栽培品种(如花椰菜、花椰菜或球芽甘蓝)的可食部分的发育，或植物种子干燥和萌发的过程。这项研究的未来应用可能包括操纵蔬菜作物可食部分的形成和抗旱作物的产生。此外，这些设备的提供将增加FGCU学生的研究机会，并有助于他们为研究生学习或生物技术行业的工作做好更好的准备。强大的研究计划和一代准备充分的劳动力预计将使生物技术计划成为吸引生物技术公司来到佛罗里达州西南部的中心，从而促进该地区的经济增长和进一步发展。