MRI: Acquisition of an Automated DNA Analysis System for Biology Teaching and Research

塔尔顿州立大学的苏德曼博士获得了一笔资金，用于购买一套自动DNA分析系统。这套仪器将用于加强生物科学系的教学和研究活动，特别是与分子生物学和遗传学有关的活动。这种DNA分析系统的使用，加上将DNA和蛋白质分析组件引入他们许多课程的实验室部分，将大大提高所有与生物系相关的学生的教育经验。这种现代的、技术的生物学方法将在三个不同的层面上给塔尔顿的学生带来优势。接触现代研究技术和仪器将使学生更好地为进入学士学位后的教育环境做好准备——无论是传统的学术环境还是医学相关领域；2)为未来的K-12教师提供解释和示范现代分子技术应用的基础；3)为学生进入快速变化的高科技工作场所做好准备。从教育的角度来看，受益于DNA分析系统的个人将包括本科生、硕士研究生、地区高中教师以及塔尔顿州立大学和德克萨斯农业研究与推广中心斯蒂芬维尔分校的研究人员。生物科学系遗传、分子生物学和生物化学实验室技术等课程的本科生将在各种实验室环境中使用自动DNA分析系统。研究生课程“分子生物学实验实习”的学生也将受益于该仪器。从研究的角度来看，参与几个正在进行的项目的本科生和研究生将直接使用自动化DNA分析系统。这些研究项目包括为调查各种哺乳动物物种的历史、一种濒危鸟类（阿特沃特山鸡）的DNA变异、确定德克萨斯州淡水湖泊引进螃蟹的起源、将外源基因引入杆状病毒以增强植物的抗虫性、检查特定“杂交”植物物种（如花生）的起源、寻找与植物耐旱性有关的基因、研究不同哺乳动物免疫应答基因的遗传多样性。该DNA分析系统的获得将对塔尔顿州立大学生物科学系相关的学术和研究界产生巨大影响。从寻求教师资格认证的学生到进行硕士水平研究的人，一种用于确定生物体之间或内部DNA序列或其他遗传差异的现场仪器将为生物教学和研究领域提供至关重要的推动力。自动化DNA分析系统每年将使100多名学生有机会获得最先进的生化分析仪器的基本培训。最后，该系统将为德克萨斯农工农业研究与推广中心斯蒂芬维尔分部的研究界提供本地访问，促进两个机构之间的额外合作研究活动。

A grant has been awarded to Dr. Sudman at Tarleton State University topurchase an automated DNA analysis system. This instrument package will beused to enhance the teaching and research activities within the Departmentof Biological Sciences, specifically those related to molecular biology andgenetics. The use of this DNA analysis system, combined with theintroduction of DNA and protein analysis components into the laboratoryportions of many of their classes, will greatly enhance the educationalexperiences of all of the students associated with the Biology Department.This modern, technological approach to biology will give Tarleton studentsadvantages on three different levels. Exposure to modern research techniquesand instrumentation will 1) better prepare the students to enter post-baccalaureate educational settings - either traditional academic settings or medical related fields; 2) prepare future K-12 teachers with a basis for explaining and perhaps demonstrating the uses of modern moleculartechniques; and 3) prepare students for entrance into the rapidly changing,high-tech workplace.From an educational standpoint, individuals that will benefit from theacquisition of a DNA analysis system will include undergraduate students,Masters level graduate students, area high school teachers, and researchersboth at Tarleton State University and the Stephenville branch of the TexasA&M Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Undergraduate studentsenrolled in courses in the Department of Biological Sciences such asHeredity, Molecular Biology, and Laboratory Techniques in Biochemistry willutilize the automated DNA analysis system in a variety of laboratorysituations. Students in the graduate course Laboratory Practicum inMolecular Biology will also benefit from the apparatus. From a researchstandpoint, undergraduate and graduate students involved with severalongoing projects will directly utilize the automated DNA analysis system.These research projects include generating data for investigating the pasthistory of various mammal species, DNA variation in an endangered bird(Attwater's prairie chickens), determination of the origin of introducedcrabs in freshwater Texas lakes, introducing foreign genes intobaculoviruses to enhance insect resistance in plants, examining the originof specific "hybrid" plant species (such as peanuts), searching for genesrelated to drought tolerance in plants, and investigations into the geneticdiversity of immune response genes in various species of mammals.The acquisition of this DNA analysis system will have a tremendous impact onthe academic and research community associated with the Department ofBiological Sciences at Tarleton State University. From students seekingteacher certification to those conducting Masters level research, an onsiteinstrument for determining DNA sequences or other genetic differencesbetween or within organisms will provide a vital boost to the biologicalteaching and research fields. The automated DNA analysis system will allowmore than 100 students per year the opportunity to obtain essential trainingwith a state-of-the-art biochemical analysis instrument. Finally, thesystem will provide local access for the research community at theStephenville branch of the Texas A&M Agricultural Research and ExtensionCenter, fostering additional collaborative research activities between thetwo institutions.