Understanding Genetic Mechanisms within the Natural World

落基山生物实验室（RMBL）获得了一笔赠款，通过购买设备来创建一个生态基因组学实验室，以加强其研究和教育计划。 这将为科学家们提供机会，将迅速出现的基因组技术应用于了解相对原始环境中的植物和动物。 生物学中的一些基本问题需要将自然环境与遗传学联系起来。 在自然条件下，基因与个人表现之间的生理机制是什么？ 哪些环境因素会影响基因活性？ 进化会跟上变化的世界吗？ 该项目通过在野外环境中创建一个生态基因组学实验室，将有助于在研究最好的生态系统之一与科学家在其家乡机构拥有的强大仪器之间建立一座桥梁。 RMBL位于科罗拉多落基山脉中南部，是一个501c3组织，旨在推进对自然的深刻科学理解，促进对地球的知情管理。 RMBL每年接待来自100多个机构的160名学生研究人员和科学家，提供受保护的研究地点和研究设施，作为实地研究地点与其所在机构之间的桥梁。 RMBL的研究为一系列生态和进化问题提供了重要的见解，包括进化，河流生态学，气候变化，人口动态，行为生态学和互惠。 此外，RMBL的研究为河流、水和空气质量以及气候变化的管理政策提供了信息。 有关RMBL的更多信息可在rmbl.org上找到。随着科学家研究基因的工具的激增，领域科学家有机会迅速阐明生物体在自然环境中表现的遗传和相关生理机制。 来自美国国家科学基金会的资金将用于购买研究设备，包括层流罩，高压灭菌器，冷冻干燥机，超冷冷冻机，热循环仪，植物生长室以及便携式光合作用和荧光系统。除了资助购买设备以支持科学家外，这笔资金还将支持当地社区学校以生态基因组学为中心的课程的开发和实施。 课程编制将为农村社区的学生提供一个独特的机会，使他们能够接受现代研究技术方面的培训，并将有助于国家努力确保通过一支具有科学素养的劳动力队伍来维持经济增长。

The Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) is awarded a grant to enhance its research and education programs by purchasing equipment to create an ecological genomics laboratory. This will provide scientists the opportunity apply rapidly emerging genomic techniques to understanding plants and animals in relatively pristine environments. A number of fundamental questions in biology require bridging the natural environment with genetics. What are the physiological mechanisms linking genes to individual performance under natural conditions? What environmental factors influence gene activity? Will evolution keep pace with a changing world? This project, by creating an ecological genomics laboratory in a field setting, will help create a bridge between one of the best studied ecosystems and the powerful instrumentation scientists have at their home institutions. Located in the southern central Colorado Rockies, RMBL is a 501c3 organization that advances the deep scientific understanding of nature that promotes informed stewardship of the Earth. Each year RMBL hosts 160 student researchers and scientists from 100+ institutions, providing access to protected research sites and the research facilities needed to serve as a bridge between field sites and their home institutions. Research at RMBL has provided critical insights into a range of ecological and evolutionary questions, including evolution, stream ecology, climate change, population dynamics, behavioral ecology, and mutualisms. Additionally, research at RMBL has informed policy on management of streams, water and air quality, and climate change. More information on RMBL can be found at rmbl.org.With the explosion of tools that allow scientists to study genes, field scientists have rapidly emerging opportunities to elucidate the genetic and associated physiological mechanisms underlying how organisms perform in natural environments. Funding from the National Science Foundation will be used to purchase research equipment, including a laminar flow hood, an autoclave, a freeze drier, an ultra-cold freezer, a thermal cycler, plant growth chambers, and a Portable Photosynthesis and Fluorescence System. In addition to funding acquisition of equipment to support scientists, the funding will also support development and implementation of curriculum centered on ecological genomics for the local community school. The curriculum development will provide a unique opportunity for students in a rural community to receive training in modern research techniques and will contribute to national efforts to ensure maintain economic growth through a scientifically literate workforce.