MRI/RUI: Acquisition of a Genetic Analyzer and Real-Time PCR System Machine for Undergraduate Research

在凯瑟琳马修斯博士的指导下，西卡罗莱纳大学获得了一笔赠款，用于部分支持遗传分析仪和实时PCR系统。基因分析仪是一种自动化系统，可执行DNA测序以及一系列基因分型和DNA指纹技术。 实时PCR系统定量DNA混合物中的序列，特别适用于检测环境中罕见但功能重要的微生物。 这两个仪器系统将作为多用户研究，研究培训和教育分子生物学设备在WCU生物系。 这些工具旨在提高生物学教师的研究能力和WCU学生的教育经验，以及吸引新的学生和研究人员到大学。 这些系统的许多应用将使许多研究活动成为可能，包括对具有生态和经济意义的生物物种和种群的进化和遗传研究、法医生物学技术和微生物群落分析。对这些仪器的资助将支持利用分子生物学的最新创新来调查生物多样性。 它将极大地扩展WCU生物系的分子生物学能力，并将导致令人兴奋的发现。 关于植物、动物和微生物的进化史还有很多有待了解的地方。 将在分子和遗传研究中对各种生物进行检查，所产生的数据将有助于解决来自不同生态系统的生物之间的关系。 学生将被包括在与这些仪器获得的数据的生成，解释和演示，并一起教师和学生将发表新的研究成果。 这些工具还将扩大课堂和研究实验室教学的能力和有效性，并将导致在大学生物学专业和非专业的科学交流的动态和创造性的方式。 该项目的核心意图是培训生物多样性研究方面的青年科学家，同时利用最新的技术进步。 基因组分析仪和实时PCR系统将为学生提供在分子基础研究以及获取和分析基因组数据集方面获得实践经验的机会。 学生对生物学的兴趣将通过教学技术和实验室经验的现代化来增强，并将促进对生物学家用来回答科学问题的现代方法的更好理解。 此外，将向代表性不足的群体，包括来自附近切罗基保留地的学生、妇女、残疾人和少数民族以及来自农村、南阿巴拉契亚当地社区的学生进行宣传。 通过学习一系列分子工具，WCU的学生将更好地为生物学的高级研究，高科技行业和教育的工作做好准备，或者仅仅是成为科学和技术素养。

A grant has been awarded to Western Carolina University under the direction of Dr. Katherine Mathews for partial support of a Genetic Analyzer and a Real-Time PCR System. The Genetic Analyzer is an automated system that performs DNA sequencing and an array of genotyping and DNA fingerprinting techniques. The Real-Time PCR System quantifies sequences from mixtures of DNA and is especially useful in detecting rare, but functionally important microorganisms in the environment. The two instrument systems will function as multi-user research, research training, and educational molecular biology equipment in the Biology Department at WCU. The instruments are meant to enhance the research capabilities of the Biology faculty and the educational experience of WCU students, as well as to attract new students and researchers to the university. The many applications of these systems will make possible a host of research activities, including evolutionary and genetic studies of species and populations of ecologically and economically significant organisms, forensic biology techniques, and microbial community analysis. Funding for these instruments will support the investigation of organismal biodiversity using recent innovations in molecular biology. It will greatly expand the molecular biological capabilities of the Biology Department at WCU and will lead to exciting discoveries. Much remains to be learned about the evolutionary history of plants, animals, and microorganisms. A diverse array of organisms will be examined in molecular and genetic studies, and the resulting data will help resolve relationships among organisms from diverse ecosystems. Students will be included in the generation, interpretation, and presentation of data acquired with these instruments, and together faculty and students will publish novel research results. These instruments will also broaden the capabilities and effectiveness of instruction in the classroom and research laboratories and will result in dynamic and creative ways of communicating science to both Biology majors and non-majors at the university. The project has at its core the intent to train young scientists in biodiversity studies while utilizing the latest in technological advances. The Genomic Analyzer and Real-Time PCR System will provide students with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in molecular-based studies and in obtaining and analyzing genomic datasets. Student interest in biology will be invigorated by the modernization of teaching techniques and laboratory experiences, and better understanding of the modern methods used by biologists to answer scientific questions will be promoted. Furthermore, outreach to underrepresented groups including students from the nearby Cherokee Reservation; women, disabled persons, and minorities; as well as students from the rural, Southern Appalachian local communities will be undertaken. By learning an array of molecular tools, WCU students will be better prepared for advanced studies in biology, for jobs in high-tech industries and education, or simply to become science and technology literate.