MRI-R2: Acquisition of a Liquid Handling Robot and a High-throughput Real-time PCR Thermocycler for Genetics and Genomics Research at UND

该奖项由2009年《美国复苏与再投资法案》(公法111-5)资助。这一重大研究仪器-复苏与再投资(MRI-R2)奖项资助北达科他州大学(UND)购买一套集成的仪器，以实现对DNA、RNA和蛋白质的中高通量分析。高容量的聚合酶链式反应装置、组织均质机和相关的液体处理机器人极大地增强了UND的基础设施，以支持生物学研究。该仪器在生态基因组学、系统生物学和人-机器人界面等学科的界面上实现了工程和生命科学方面的尖端研究培训和课堂教育。这项研究的重点是生物对环境应激源的遗传、表观遗传和基因组基础，包括非生物因素，如温度、大气气体、湿度和重金属，以及生物因素，如食草动物和营养。高通量技术的影响超越了纯粹的研究，为本科生和研究生提供了重要的新教育机会。这样的培训机会对生命科学和工程学专业的学生来说尤其重要。现代研究的本质以新获得的仪器为缩影，这些仪器源于工程师、计算机科学家、物理学家、化学家和生物学家之间的跨学科互动。该工具允许学生获得宝贵的经验，并可能允许吸引或成立新公司和高薪工作到该地区，这反过来有助于留住国家的人才和智力。新设备支持的研究结果将通过学生和教职员工在地区和国家会议上的陈述以及通过在同行评议的期刊上发表来传播。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).This Major Research Instrumentation-Recovery and Reinvestment (MRI-R2) award funds the acquisition of an integrated set of instruments to enable medium to high-throughput analysis of DNA, RNA, and protein at the University of North Dakota (UND). A high capacity PCR unit, tissue homogenizer, and associated liquid handling robot greatly enhance the UND infrastructure to support biological research. The instrumentation enables cutting-edge research training and classroom education in engineering and life sciences at the interface of disciplines, i.e., ecological genomics, systems biology, and the human-robot interface. The research is unified by an emphasis on the genetic, epigenetic, and genomic bases of biological responses to environmental stressors, including abiotic factors like temperature, atmospheric gases, humidity, and heavy metals and biotic factors like herbivores and nutrition. The influence of high-throughput technologies reaches beyond pure research to provide significant new educational opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. Such training opportunities are especially important for students who are demographically underrepresented in the life sciences and engineering. The nature of modern research is epitomized by the newly acquired instruments, stemming from interdisciplinary interactions among engineers, computer scientists, physicists, chemists, and biologists. The instrumentation allows students to gain valuable experiences, and may allow for the attraction or formation of new companies and higher paying jobs to the area, which in turn helps retain the state's talent and brainpower. Results from the studies enabled by the new equipment will be disseminated by student and faculty presentations at regional and national meetings, and through publication in peer-reviewed journals.