MRI Acquisition of Molecular Biology Laboratory Instruments: The Tree of Life Branches out to MSUM

明尼苏达州立大学穆尔黑德分校获得了一笔拨款，用于扩大和加强合作研究项目，并将教师研究纳入本科生研究培训课程。这笔资金将用于购买分子生物学研究所需的两种仪器。这些仪器，一个凝胶可视化系统和组织均质机，是各种研究项目不可或缺的一部分，从阐明最早的陆地植物之间的进化关系到了解环境对迁徙蜻蜓种群遗传学的影响。本科学生将使用这些分子生物学仪器来学习分离DNA，收集和分析分子数据，这些数据将用于更大的项目。特别是，该仪器将促进两所大学在该领域的合作。生命之树？项目，因此，为本科生和他们的导师提供了一个对地球上生命进化的理解做出贡献的机会。将这些仪器纳入本科科学课程将为更多学生提供分子研究经验，并最大限度地将教师研究与科学教育结合起来。将分子技能融入研究型课程的重要性怎么强调都不为过，尤其是在DNA不仅被用来辨别进化关系，而且被用来判定罪犯有罪或无罪的时代。重要的是，学生毕业时将拥有现实世界的研究经验和技能，这将使他们在全球市场上具有竞争力。

A grant has been awarded to Minnesota State University, Moorhead to expand and strengthen collaborative research programs, and to incorporate faculty research into research training courses for undergraduates. Funds from this award will be used to purchase two instruments necessary for molecular biology research. The instruments, a gel visualization system and tissue homogenizer, are integral to a variety of research projects ranging from elucidation of evolutionary relationships among the very earliest of land plants to understanding environmental impacts on population genetics of migratory dragonflies. Undergraduate students will use these molecular biology instruments as they learn to isolate DNA, and gather and analyze molecular data that will be used in larger projects. In particular, the instrumentation will stimulate a collaboration between two universities working on a segment of the ?tree of life? project and thus, provide undergraduates and their mentors an opportunity to contribute to the understanding of the evolution of life on earth.Incorporation of these instruments into the undergraduate science curriculum will provide more students with molecular research experience and maximize integration of faculty research with science education. The importance of integrating molecular skills into a research-infused curriculum cannot be overstated, especially in an age when DNA is used not only to discern evolutionary relationships but to convict or exonerate criminals. Importantly, students will graduate with real-world research experience and a skill set that will make them competitive in the global marketplace.