Acquisition of a Digital Image Documentation Station and a High Speed Refrigerated Centrifuge for Core Molecular Biology Lab

摘要：美国巴里大学（Barry University）的Petrino博士获得了一笔拨款，用于为核心分子生物学实验室购买一个数字图像文档站和一台高速冷冻离心机。本研究的科学目的是利用两种成熟的神经内分泌模型系统：鳉鱼（Fundulus heteroclitus）和斑马鱼（Danio rerio）来理解卵母细胞分化和胚胎发育的基本分子机制。该项目利用鳉鱼的重点是了解脑垂体和卵巢在控制循环生殖中的关系。斑马鱼项目的长期目标是评估参与胚胎发育的基因的作用。该项目的第一部分将涉及基因克隆技术，其中高速冷冻离心机至关重要。一旦感兴趣的基因被克隆，它们将被用于各种分子程序，以确定这些基因在卵子和早期胚胎发育期间的空间和时间表达，为此将使用数字图像记录系统来分析结果。本研究结果不仅可以为了解基本的生殖过程提供新的见解，而且有望进一步阐明基因表达在早期胚胎发育中的调控作用。此外，由于其中一些基因的缺失与各种癌症有关，因此该结果有望导致进一步的研究，这可能有助于了解癌症发展的机制。除了拟议的研究之外，所要求的仪器将通过讲习班用于夏季研究培训活动，为来自迈阿密戴德县和布劳沃德县的少数民族本科生、高中理科学生和高中科学教师提供“实践”经验。然后将高中教师所学的一些技术纳入课程，从而使更多的高中生接触到现代生物技术。这些设备也将提供给新教员，包括目前正在建立自己的研究的代表性不足的女教员。因此，这两件设备将大大提高这所少数族裔大学的能力，为教师和多样化的学生群体提供最新的研究/学习环境。

ABSTRACTNSF Proposal # 0116080 A grant has been awarded to Dr. Petrino at Barry University to acquire a Digital Image Documentation Station and a High-Speed Refrigerated Centrifuge for the Core Molecular Biology Laboratory. The scientific objective of this proposal is to comprehend the basic molecular mechanisms underlying oocyte differentiation and embryonic development using two well-established neuroendocrine model systems: the killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) and the zebrafish (Danio rerio). The project using the killifish focuses on understanding the relationship between the pituitary gland and the ovary in controlling cyclic reproduction. The long-term goal of the zebrafish project is to evaluate the role of genes involved in embryonic development. The first part of the project will involve gene cloning techniques for which the High-Speed Refrigerated Centrifuge is crucial. Once the genes of interest are cloned, they will be used in a variety of molecular procedures in order to determine the spatial and temporal expression of these genes during egg and early embryo development, for which the Digital Image Documentation System will be used to analyze the results. Results from this study may provide new insights for understanding not only the basic reproductive process but are also expected to further clarify the regulation of gene expression in early embryonic development. Furthermore, since the loss of some of these genes has been linked to various cancers, the results are expected to lead to further studies that may help in understanding mechanisms involved in the development of cancer. In addition to the proposed research, the instruments requested will be used for summer research training activities through workshops providing "hands-on" experience to minority undergraduates, high school science students and high school science teachers from Miami Dade and Broward counties. Some of the techniques learned by high school teachers are then incorporated into the curriculum thus exposing more high school students to modern biotechnology techniques. These equipments will also be available to new faculty members, including underrepresented female faculty, who are currently establishing their own research. Therefore, these two pieces of equipment will very much enhance the ability of this minority institution to provide an up to date research/learning environment for both, faculty and its diverse student body.