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赠款，用于扩大和加强合作研究项目，并将教师研究纳入本科生的研究培训课程。这项奖励的资金将用于购买分子生物学研究所需的两台仪器。这些仪器是凝胶可视化系统和组织均质器，是各种研究项目的组成部分，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。本科生将在学习分离DNA时使用这些分子生物学仪器，并收集和分析将在更大项目中使用的分子数据。特别是，该仪器将刺激两所大学在生命之树的一段上的合作。将这些仪器纳入本科科学课程中，将为更多的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相结合。将分子技能整合到充满研究的课程中的重要性怎么强调都不为过，特别是在DNA不仅被用来辨别进化关系，而且还被用来给罪犯定罪或无罪的时代。重要的是，学生毕业后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.