Acquistion of an Image Analysis Work Station at Wesleyan College

卫斯理学院(Wesleyan College)的霍莉·博特格-童(Holly Boettger-ong)博士获得了一笔赠款，用于购买一台成像工作站。卫斯理学院是一所面向女性的本科文理学院。该成像工作站的具体组件包括一个带有数码相机的成像研究显微镜，以及能够进行高分辨率图像采集和形态分析的成像软件。扫描激光密度计，以及能够对染色电泳胶、印迹膜和放射自显影进行定量的软件，也是该工作站不可或缺的组成部分。购买这种设备对生物系的研究活动至关重要，并代表着我们通过向学生介绍现代技术来整合教育和研究的持续努力的重大进步，他们将使用这些技术来开发独立的研究项目。与教师合作，学生将探索细胞骨架信号在精子发生、受精和早期发育中的作用。此外，学生还将研究分化过程中上皮组织中基因表达的调节。这种仪器将极大地增加卫斯理学院提供的研究培训机会，并将直接转化为教职员工和本科生研究人员更多的科学发现机会。在卫斯理学院，生物系的课程是以学生为中心的，特别强调学生指导的研究体验。学生通过与系教员一起担任研究助理，以及通过高年级生物学课程的独立研究项目获得这些经验。该设备的基础研究应用将包括使用Axioplan II和成像软件进行分子和免疫组织化学研究，以分析选定的细胞骨架蛋白在生殖道和早期发育过程中的表达模式。此外，还将使用扫描密度测量设备和软件，通过Northern blotting对信使核糖核酸的表达进行定量，并通过蛋白质印迹密度法比较信使核糖核酸的表达水平和蛋白质的表达水平。该设备还将用于组织学、发育生物学、遗传学、细胞和分子生物学以及DNA技术等课程的现代化。收购这一图像分析工作站将有助于卫斯理学院的生物学教员成功地利用现代科学方法为女性提供绝佳的研究机会。作为一所文化多元化(占35%的少数族裔)的学院，卫斯理承认，它有一个独特的机会，可以有利地影响少数族裔女性进入科学界的招聘。这种设备将直接影响青年妇女为从事科学职业做准备，并将大大提高她们进入高质量研究生院的竞争力。

A grant has been awarded to Dr. Holly Boettger-Tong at Wesleyan College, an undergraduate liberal arts college for women, to acquire an imaging workstation. The specific components of this imaging workstation include an imaging research microscope with digital camera, combined with imaging software capable of high resolution image acquisition and morphologic analysis capabilities. A scanning laser densitometer, with software capable of quantifying stained electrophoresis gels, blotting membranes and autoradiographs is also an integral component of this workstation. Acquisition of this equipment is vital to the research activities of the Biology faculty, and represents a significant improvement in our ongoing efforts to integrate education and research by introducing students to modern technologies which they will use to develop independent research projects. In collaboration with faculty, students will explore the role of cytoskeletal signaling in spermatogenesis, fertilization and early development. In addition, students will examine the regulation of gene expression in epithelial tissues during differentiation. This instrumentation will greatly enhance the research training opportunities available at Wesleyan College and will directly translate into more opportunities for scientific discovery by both faculty and undergraduate researchers. At Wesleyan College, the Biology department curriculum is student-centered, with specific emphasis on student-directed research experiences. Students gain these experiences working as research assistants with department faculty, and through independent research projects in upper division Biology courses. Basic research applications of the equipment will include use of the Axioplan II and imaging software for molecular and immunohistochemical studies to analyze the expression pattern of select cytoskeletal proteins in the reproductive tract and during early development. In addition, the scanning densitometry equipment and software will be used for quantitation of mRNA expression by Northern blotting, as well as the comparison of levels of mRNA expression with protein expression by densitometry of Western blots. This equipment will also serve to modernize courses in Histology, Developmental Biology, Genetics, Cell and Molecular Biology and DNA Technology. Acquisition of this image analysis workstation will assist the Biology faculty at Wesleyan College in their goal of successfully providing women with excellent research opportunities using modern scientific methods. As a culturally diverse (35% minority) College, Wesleyan recognizes that it has a unique opportunity to favorably impact the recruitment of minority women into the sciences. This equipment will make a direct impact on the preparation of young women for careers in the sciences and will greatly enhance their competitiveness for admission at quality postgraduate institutions.