A Quantitative platform to expedite gene and genomic discovery from model species to crops and wild berries.

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Quantitative and sensitive detection of changes in gene expression and mutations in genomes is essential for plant molecular biology studies. We request funding to establish a platform composed of a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) module and an integrated digital PCR (dPCR) module to be hosted in the Department of Botany at the University of British Columbia. The qPCR module is for an urgent replacement of a failed qPCR system that was frequently used over the past decade by approximately half of the research groups in the Department of Botany at UBC. The dPCR module will support the same user groups for quantitative assays that cannot be addressed by qPCR. The sensitivity, precision, inhibition resilience, and absolute quantification of dPCR allow the detection of rare transcripts, subtle but biologically crucial changes of gene expression, and naturally occurring or genome editing-induced mutations even in polyploid plant species or in the presence of PCR inhibitors. The quantitative platform will facilitate scientific discoveries and training of more than 50 HQP across the user groups in a broad range of research programs supported by at least eight NSERC Discovery grants. These research activities will benefit the many fundamental research programs in plant molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, metabolism, genomics, and immunity. The qPCR-dPCR platform will also generate quantitative data for crop improvement in species of high economic value to Canada, including oilseeds, wheat, blueberries, and tomatoes, as well as wild berries utilized by First Nations.