Thermal cycler and nanodrop spectrophotometer

转基因小鼠和定量实时聚合链（qRT-PCR）反应分析mRNA的表达是生理学研究的重要研究工具和技术。这些工具对于理解分子水平上的生理过程至关重要。虽然这些技术和工具已经在生物化学、生物学和医学中使用了一段时间，但它们现在正被用于营养学和运动学研究。支持这些活动的现代设备，如热循环仪和分光光度计，对于支持研究活动至关重要，同时也为本科生提供实践培训。滑铁卢大学运动机能系的遗传和分子研究数量急剧增加，这主要是由于新研究项目的增长。这导致了两个转基因小鼠群体的增加，另外两个群体正在开发中。维持这些菌落需要勤奋的基因分型。此外，在分子水平上确定营养和运动的影响需要对基因表达进行广泛的检查（包括使用qRT-PCR）。基因分型和qRT-PCR都需要高容量热循环和分光光度法。在该领域的研究项目中使用这些技术也为在本科阶段引入相关培训创造了需求和理由。目前的设备需求将支持NSERC资助的三位研究人员的项目，并使重要分子生物学技术的本科培训成为可能。

Genetically manipulated mice and quantitative real time polymerize chain (qRT-PCR) reaction analyses of the expression of the mRNA are important research tools and techniques for physiology research. These tools are critical for understanding the physiological processes at the molecular level. While these techniques and tools have been used for some time in biochemistry, biology and medicine, they are now being used in nutrition and kinesiology studies. Modern equipment to support these activities such as thermal cyclers and spectrophotometers are essential to support research activities, but also to enable hands-on training for undergraduate students. The amount of genetic and molecular based research as dramatically increased in Department of Kinesiology at the University of Waterloo largely as the result of the growth of new research programs. This has resulted in the addition of two genetically modified mouse colonies with two more colonies being developed. Maintenance of these colonies requires diligent genotyping. In addition efforts to determine the impact of nutrition and exercise at the molecular level require extensive examinations of gene expression that includes the use of qRT-PCR). Both genotyping and qRT-PCR require high capacity thermal cycling and spectrophotometry. The use of these techniques in research programs in the field also creates a need and rationale for introducing related training at the undergraduate level. The present equipment request will support the programs of three NSERC funded researchers and enable the undergraduate training in important molecular biology techniques.