Genetic and Molecular Characterization of Two Quantitative Trait Loci for Circadian Rhythm in Neurospora crassa

大多数真核生物的细胞和行为节律周期约为24小时。这些节律统称为生物或昼夜“时钟”，这种时钟影响着生物体的许多活动，例如人类的睡眠/觉醒周期。通过遗传学、生物化学、分子学和基因组学的研究，丝状真菌粗神经孢子菌已经成为揭示许多生物学奥秘的一个极好的模型系统。由于真核生物生物钟的核心机制具有共性，因此了解神经孢子虫的生物钟可以提高我们对其在各种生物中的功能和生物学后果的理解。这个项目的目标是两个主要的数量性状位点（qtl）的分子特征，有助于昼夜节律。该项目将为昼夜节律钟和数量性状位点的生物学提供见解。这项研究将被整合到研究者的“昼夜节律”课程的一个新的实验室模块中。实验模块将为本科生（理科生和非理科生都一样）提供一个实践真菌生物钟实验特征的机会，以及对数量特征的本质和研究的见解。对这些学生来说，这将是一次宝贵的学习经历，并将帮助他们成长为国家所需要的知识渊博、精通科学的公民。

Most eukaryotic organisms display cellular and behavioral rhythms with a period of approximately 24 hours. These rhythms are collectively called the biological or circadian "clock", and this clock influences many of an organism's activities, such as the sleep/wake cycle in humans. Through genetic, biochemical, molecular, and genomic studies, the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa has served as an excellent model system for unraveling many biological mysteries. Due to the commonality of the core mechanisms of the circadian clock in eukaryotes, understanding the clock in Neurospora should improve our understanding of its functioning and biological consequences in a wide range of organisms. The goal of this project is the molecular characterization of two major quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that contribute to circadian rhythms. The project should provide insights into the biology of both the circadian clock and quantitative trait loci. This research will be integrated into a new laboratory module for the investigator's "Circadian Rhythms" course. The laboratory module will provide undergraduate students - science majors and non-majors alike - with an opportunity for hands-on experience in the experimental characterization of the fungal circadian clock, along with insights into the nature and study of quantitative traits. This will be an invaluable learning experience for these students, and will help them develop into the intellectually informed, scientifically sophisticated citizens that the nation needs.