Introduction of Molecular Genetics Techniques into the Undergraduate Curriculum

该项目的目标是将分子遗传学的最新技术引入本科生物学课程。它所提供的设备使开设新的分子生物学实验课程成为可能，同时也使现有的细胞生物学、微生物学和普通生物学课程实验室得到改进。每年大约有170名本科生将受到这些变化的影响。新设备包括一个细菌培养箱和水浴摇床，用于培养细菌以分离质粒；二氧化碳培养箱和层流清洁工作台，供学生进行组织培养；用于DNA/RNA纯化和浓缩的微离心机；水平琼脂糖凝胶单元和dna检测相机系统，用于分离和分析限制性内切酶消化产物；用于分析体外转录反应产物的聚丙烯酰胺平板凝胶单元；荧光照射器检测转移基因产物的细胞表面表达；以及用于长期保存实验中使用的细菌菌株和细胞系的超低温冷冻机。通过让学生熟悉分子克隆和基因表达的方法，该项目正在增强他们的学术经验，提高他们对科学过程的认识，并为他们的科学事业做更充分的准备。受资助机构将从非联邦来源获得等额的NSF奖励。

The goal of this project is to introduce current techniques in molecular genetics into the undergraduate biology curriculum. The equipment it provides is making it possible to offer a new laboratory course in Molecular Biology, as well as to improve the present Cell Biology, Microbiology, and General Biology course laboratories. Approximately 170 students per year, at all undergraduate levels, will be affected by these changes. The new equipment includes a bacteriologic incubator and water bath shaker to culture bacteria for the isolation of plasmids; a CO2 incubator and laminar-flow clean benches for student work with tissue culture; microcentrifuges for DNA/RNA purification and concentration; horizontal agarose gel units and a DNA-detection camera system to separate and analyse the products of restriction enzyme digestions; a polyacrylamide slab gel unit to analyze the products of in vitro transcription reactions; fluorescence illuminators to detect the cell- surface expression of the product of a transferred gene; and an ultraflow freezer for the long-term preservation of the bacterial strains and cell lines used in the experiments described. By acquainting students with the methodology involved in molecular cloning and gene expression, this project is enhancing their academic experience, increasing their awareness of the scientific process, and preparing them more fully for scientific careers. The grantee institution is matching the NSF award with an equal sum obtained from non-Federal sources.