Acquisition of a Genetic Analyzer for Analysis of Phylogenetic Relationships and Populations Genetics.

博士们已获得一笔赠款。Allan， Bushar和Hearn在阿卡迪亚大学（前海狸学院）进行DNA序列分析，选择属于植物和动物王国的生物体。艾伦博士将分析豌豆科植物物种之间的进化关系，以更好地了解它们在特定地中海环境中的起源和多样化。这项研究将需要对自动DNA测序仪生成的DNA序列进行分析，并将为大约150个物种构建分子系统发育（基于DNA的家谱），其中一些物种具有重要的农业意义。Bushar博士将进行DNA序列和微卫星（串联重复DNA序列）研究，以了解影响北美响尾蛇结构、变异和长期生存能力的因素。赫恩博士将利用DNA序列信息来加强她在西非赤道几内亚比奥科岛大型森林哺乳动物和筑巢海龟的保护管理和进化关系方面的工作。本研究使用的方法包括：从不同的研究生物（植物、蛇、哺乳动物）中分离基因组DNA；核、叶绿体和线粒体DNA靶基因区域的鉴定；以及使用遗传分析仪（DNA测序器）生成DNA序列信息。在植物研究中，DNA序列信息将与基于计算机的算法一起用于生成基于分子的系统发育。这些数据将解决与不同地中海地区（包括北美西部、智利、地中海、西澳大利亚和南非）特有植物的起源和多样化有关的问题。在响尾蛇中，DNA序列信息和微卫星位点将被应用于空间隔离的北美物种的遗传比较。这些数据将为蛇种群内部和种群之间的遗传结构提供有价值的信息。大型森林哺乳动物之间的关系将利用DNA序列数据结合基于计算机的系统发育分析进行分析。这些数据将有助于比奥科岛上大型森林哺乳动物和海龟筑巢的保护管理。这些DNA序列研究的主要目的是加强阿卡迪亚大学生物学本科教育。DNA序列技术正迅速成为广泛的生物基础问题的选择方法。新药物的开发、强毒性流感病毒的鉴定、艾滋病病毒的研究、人类基因组计划和生物多样性的保护管理只是使用DNA序列技术进行研究的几个例子。通过将DNA序列方法整合到植物生物学、高级遗传学和分子生物学课程中，学生将了解DNA技术在各种生物学问题中的广泛应用。学生将接受DNA序列数据的理论和应用分析方面的培训。另一个目标是为其他小型文理学院的教师和高中教师提供先进的实验室技术课程。最终，该研究项目将成为教育和培训下一代青年科学家和教师的有力启发式工具。这个项目通过培养学生来教授和研究直接影响人类社会的问题，对公众有直接的好处。

A grant has been awarded to Drs. Allan, Bushar and Hearn at Arcadia University (formerly Beaver College) to conduct DNA sequence analyses of select organisms belonging to the Plant and Animal kingdoms. Dr. Allan will analyze evolutionary relationships among plant species in the Pea Family to better understand their origin and diversification in specific mediterranean environments. The study will entail analysis of DNA sequences generated by an automated DNA sequencer, and will result in the construction of a molecular phylogeny (DNA-based family tree) for approximately 150 species, some of which are agriculturally important. Dr. Bushar will conduct DNA sequence and microsatellite (tandemly repeated DNA sequences) studies to understand factors that impact the structure, variation and long-term viability of North American rattlesnakes. Dr. Hearn will use DNA sequence information to augment her work on the conservation management and evolutionary relationships of large forest mammals and nesting marine turtles on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea, West Africa.Methods used in this research include: the isolation of genomic DNA from different study organisms (plants, snakes, mammals); identification of target gene regions in nuclear, chloroplast and mitochondrial DNA; and the generation of DNA sequence information using a Genetic Analyzer (DNA sequencer). In the plant study, DNA sequence information will be used to generate molecular-based phylogenies, in conjunction with computer-based algorithms. These data will address questions relating to the origin and diversification of plants endemic to different mediterranean regions including western North America, Chile, the Mediterranean, western Australia and South Africa. In rattlesnakes, both DNA sequence information and microsatellite loci will be applied to genetic comparisons of spatially isolated North American species. These data will provide valuable information on the genetic structure both within and between snake populations. Relationships among large forest mammals will be analyzed using DNA sequence data in conjunction with computer-based phylogenetic analyses. These data will contribute to the conservation management of large forest mammals and nesting marine turtles on Bioko Island.The primary purpose of these DNA sequence studies is to enhance undergraduate education in biology at Arcadia University. DNA sequence technology is rapidly becoming the method of choice for a broad spectrum of biological-based questions. The development of new pharmaceutical drugs, the identification of virulent flu viruses, research on the AIDS virus, the human genome project and conservation management of biodiversity are just a few examples of studies that use DNA sequence technology. By incorporating DNA sequence methods into plant biology, advanced genetics and molecular biology courses, students will gain an understanding of the wide application DNA technology has to diverse biological questions. Students will be trained both in theoretical and applied analyses of DNA sequence data. An additional goal is to offer courses in advanced laboratory techniques to faculty from other small liberal arts colleges and to high school teachers. Ultimately, this research program constitutes a powerful heuristic tool for educating and training the next generation of young scientists and teachers. This program has a direct benefit to the public by training students who will teach and conduct research on problems that directly impact human society.